HOUSE OF COMMONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 November 1927, Page 5

HOUSE OF COMMONS

AUTUMN SESSION OPENED . . MINISTERS’ REPLIES TO . QUESTIONS (By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian A N.Z. Cable Assooiationj

(Received 9th November, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, Sth Nov. The House of Commons autumn session opened without ceremony. Sir T. Cunliffe-Lister, President of the Board of Trade, in .answer to a question, said that for the quarter ended 30th September British imports from Russia were £7,G00,000 as compared with £G,400,00 for the same quarter in 192 G. Exports to Russia for the same period were £1,022,000 and £1,200,000, and re-exports £BOO,OOO and £2,200,00. Sir Austen Ghamberlaiii informed a questioner that the anti-British feeling in China was diminishing. British shipping was being experimentally used in the upper Yangtse, and merchants were returning to Ichang, Chingsha and Chiangking. The Government was considering wliat steps to take to deal with the revival of the anti-British boycott in Canton.

Mr Baldwin announced that the Bill enfranchising women at the age of 21 would not be introduced before Christmas.

Mr Baldwin told a questioner that the League qf Nations 'Preparatory Commission on Disarmament,, would meet, on 20th November and the Council of the League early in December. The latter would doubtless give effect to the Assembly’s resolutions.

Sir L. Worthington Evans, Secretary of State for War, said that lie understood the Soviet bought 50,000 tons of nitrate, presumably for munitions, also large quantities of leather tanning materials, lead, copper and tungsten, which could be used for either civil or military purposes. Mr Churchill, Chancellor of the Exchequer, admitted that the year ended 31st October had yielded in betting duty .€2,700,000, which was onlv half what was expected. Mr Baldwin’s motion for preference for Government business throughout tlie session was carried by 209 votes to 128.

Mr MacDonald and Mr. Lloyd George made a protest, demanding opportunities to discuss the questions of unemployment, the coal position, naval disarmament and the new Prayer Book. Mr Baldwin undertook to try and find the opportunities demanded.