BRITISH POLITICS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 7 April 1924, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

— -wdggfiS**' guardianship op infants

(By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Uieuter's Telegrams.)

LONDON, April 4. In the House of Commons, generalsupport was given during the debate on Mr Wintringham’s Guardianship of Infants Bill, which was read a second time. The Bill provides that a mother of every legitimate infant shall be the guardian jointly with the father, and have equal authority, rights and responsibilities. Mrs Wdntringham stressed the present unfair jxtsition of married women, compared with unmarried mothers or separated wives in respect to the custody of their children.

Mr Rhys Davies, Under-Secretary for Home Affairs, said that the Government would introduce in the House of Lords a Bill embodying the main principles of Mrs Wintringham’s Bill soon after Easter.

A WAY OUT OF THE IMPASSE

LONDON, April 4,

In the House of Commons, Mr Clynes settled doubts regarding the Government’s way out of the impasse in which it found itself as regards the Evictions Dill. lie stated that the Government proposed to submit amendments to clause 1 in committee providing that before a- court makes an order for possession in the case, of non-payment of rent it shall first bo satisfied that the tenant had a reasonable oportunity of obtaining relief (from the local poor law authorities. IleVndvised that such an amendment was within the scope of the present Bill and did not require a money resolution; therefore the Government proposed to take' the Bill as the first business on Monday. After some Liberal and Conservative criticism a Labourite, Mr Kirkwood, excited Opposition laughter and cheers by a heated speech in which he described the- Government as a jellyfish calling themselves socialists. He said the time had come for the Government to prove their usefulness. Tenants were threatened with eviction, particularly in Scotland. Parish councils were already overburdened and the Government should say whether they intended to introduce a money bill to recoup them.

Mr Clynes replied that a charge on the community must in the first place be met through local authorities. He said nothing to indicate that the Government was opposed to recouping them from Slate funds.

RESTRICTION OF WHITE LEAD

PAINT

LONDON, April 6

The Home Secretary is introducing a Bill into the House of .Commons to give effect, to the Geneva Labour Conference decision restricting the use of whiteleafl paint.

WHEN LABOUR HAS A MAJORITY

LONDON, April 6. Mr Wheatley, Minister of Health, speaking at Glasgow, said: “If the people were really staggered., by the Evictions Bill, then God help their tranquility in the coming days when a Labour majority appears in the Commons. The Government will then be able to alter the whole social system.”