LABOUR DEFEATED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20779, 23 January 1931, Page 11

LABOUR DEFEATED.

DIVISION IN RANKS.

EDUCATION BILL FIGHT.

HOSTILE AMENDMENT.

SECTARIAN QUESTION.

THIRD READING CARRIED.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright

(Received January 22, 7.55 p.m.)

British Wireless. ItUGB\, Jan. 01. The Government was defeated in the House of Commons this evening in a division at the report stage of the Education Bill for the raising of the school leaving age. This measure has met with opposition from groups in all the political parties on the question of State aid to be given to the non-provided sectarian schools, in order to enable them to fulfil the programme of building and staffing involved. In an effort to reach a settlement the president of the Board of Education, Sir C. P. Trevelyan, held conferences in the recess, but they proved abortive. The division took place on an amendment moved by Mr. J. Scurr, a Roman Catholic Labour member for Stepney, to suspend the operation of the Act, pending an arrangement for the sectarian schools. The amendment was carried by 282 votes to 249.

Questioned by the Leader of the Conservatives, Mr. Baldwin, as to whether the Bill would be proceeded with that evening, the Prime Minister, Mr. MacDonald said no principle at all was involved in the division, and he hoped the House would proceed. A motion to adjourn the House was mvved by a Conservative, but was not pressed to a division. Finally, the House passed the third reading of the Bill by 256 votes to 238. Most of the Liberals abstained from voting, owing to the success of Mr. Scurr's amendment, which Mr. W. Runcimnn, Liberal member for St. Ives, Cornwall, said Freo Church supporters considered to bo retrograde.

ANALYSIS OF TOTING. OPPOSITION EXCITED. MEMBERS' CRIES OF " RESIGN." (Received January 22, 8.15 p.m.) British Wireless. RUGBY, Jan. 21. Although it was known that the division on the amendment to the Education Bill in tho House of Commons would be critical, the actual defeat of the Government was not expected. Members for the past few days had been deluged with postcards from Anglo-Catholic and Roman Catholic electors demanding Stato aid for sectarian schools to enable them to meet the new responsibilities put upon them bv the bill.

Some Parliamentary correspondents, before tho opening of tho session, predicted that the Government would have to withdraw the bill. Nevertheless, Sir Charles Trevelyan to-day informed a meeting of the Labour Party that, in spite of tho fact that no arrangement had been come to regarding sectarian schools, he must proceed with tho measure. Thereupon Mr. Seurr announced that he and his fellow-Roman Catholics and the Anglo-C'atholic Labour members had no option but to opposo tho Government. He said that sometimes party allegiance must give way to higher claims.

Even then the Government expected the Liberals' votes would pull it through, expecting that most of the Roman Catholic Labour members would merely abstain from voting. However, about 40 Labour members voted for Mr. Scurr s amendment. The majority of the Liberals voted for the Government. The Conservatives mustered all their available strength foi the amendment.

When the members of the Opposition heard the figures they waved handkerchiefs, cheered wildly and shouted: "lle-

S,gn " , , Mr. Mac Donald, however, calmly rose and said he was rather surprised at the excitement, as the division did not involve any principle. The Government would continue negotiations aiming at an agreement for non-provided schools. Nothing further was involved.