LIBERALS AND CABINET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20520, 22 March 1930, Page 11

LIBERALS AND CABINET.

ACTION ON COAL BILL.

SUPPORT BY NOT VOTING.

FEARS FOR CONFERENCE.

FATE IN THE BALANCE.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, (Received March 21, 5.35 p.m.)

British "Wireless

RUGBY, March 20.

Much interest is displayed in the newspapers in the change in the political situation resulting from the announcement that the Liberal Party in the House of Commons would abstain from voting on the Conservative amendment to omit the price-fixing provisions from the Government's Coal Mines Bill, which course they took to-day. Importance is attached in some quarters to the fact that Mr. Lloyd George. Mr. Walter Runciman, Sir Herbert Samuel and other prominent Liberals, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Snowden, the First Lord of the Admiralty. Mr. A. V. Alexander, the PaymasterGeneral, Lord Arnold, and other members of the Government were present at what is called a " free trade" luncheon, given to-day by Mrs. Snowden at Downing Street. The Manchester Guardian says there was no arranged coincidence, and there was no diplomacy jn the luncheon. It was a mere attempt to get the free traders of both parties together, in vlfsw of the menace to free trade, and there was no connection between it and the decision taken a few hours later by the Liberals on" the Coal Mines Bill.

Mr. Lloyd George explained why the Liberal Party would not take any further part in moving or supporting the amendment to the bill during the Committee stage. He said he understood the fate of the Naval Conference hung in the balance, and undoubtedly any action by the Liberals which would weaken the Government at this moment might have a very damaging effect on the fate of the conference.