THROUGH THE NIGHT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 200, 24 July 1936, Page 9

THROUGH THE NIGHT

DEBATE IN COMMONS. UNEMPLOYMENT MEASURES. MEMBERS SUSPENDED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Biitish Official Wireless.) Received July 24, 11.26 ajn. RUGBY, July 23. The usual good-natured chaff in the House of Commons debate on the Unemployment Assistance Regulations provided a number of humorous incidents to lighten the night’s proceedings. Though tempers became frayed at times the—Labour members in particular resenting tho retusal of the Government spoKesman to accept their version of the hardship which they alleged the regulations would inflict — Parliamentary correspondents describe ihe speeches as being of ail unusually high standard for an all night debate. The Minister of Labour y.Vlr Ernest Brown) never deserted his post, and the Dominions Secretary (Mr Malcolm .VlacDoual(l) supported hint throughout. As the afternoon wore on tiie effects of the tiredness of members became apparent, and during Sir John Simon’s speech the Speaker was compelled to suspend the session for a short time to secure the restoration ol order. At the resumption of business three members were suspended and withdrew from the House. Sir John .Simon, replying for the Government, said the criticism by the Opposition had concentrated on the household means test, but to two out of every three persons who would be affected the means test was quite irrelevant since they had no resources. With, regard to the scales themselves, the changes made in the new regulations numbered seven altogether. Every change was in the direction of improving the position of the applicant. The scales themselves attracted very little attention in the debate, and the reason he suggested was that the Opposition realised that reasonable and sensible people would not be prepared to oppose them. THE EARLY STAGES. MEASURE CRITICISED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 22. Opening the second of the three days of debate on the Unemployment Assistance Regulations in the House of Commons, Mr Neil McLean (Labour) said that the unemployed were expected to become enthusiastic because 200,000 among them were likely to receive an increase of an average of Oil weekly. Amid laughter lm referred to the payments as a Woolworth increase from a Woolworth Government. The Secretary for Scotland (Sir Godfrey Collins) said that the Government confidently looked to an unbiased public opinion sympathetically moved toward the needs ol tho unemployed to approve of regulations intended to give even-handed justice to all applicants. Great Britain was treating her unemployed better than any other nation in the world. Mr Dingle Foot (Liberal) criticised the regulations, although he regarded them as an improvement oil the 1934 draft. LENGTHY SITTING. Received July 24, 8.5 a.m. LONDON, July 23. The House of Commons is still sitting and is not expected to rise until 11 p.m., having sat continuously for 32 hours debating the Unemployment Regulations.