LAND BILL IN LORDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20868, 9 May 1931, Page 9

LAND BILL IN LORDS.

MAIN CLAUSES REJECTED.

GOVERNMENT CHALLENGED.

LORD- HAILSHAM'S MOTION

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. British Wireless. RUGBY. May 7. The Agricultural Land Utilisation Bill, which was considerably amended in Committee, was considered on the report stago in (he House of Lords this evening. The Lord President of the Council, Lord Parmoor. said the Government must give an uncompromising negative to Lord Hailsham's request that the House of Commons should be advised to waive their privileges regarding certain amendments which the Lords had made to the bill after {heir debate.

Lord Hailsham, who was Lord Chancellor under the Conservative Government, thereupon moved the rejection of Part I. of the measure, which deals with the power of the Minister to acquire land for the purpose of reconditioning.

Lord Hailsham said the Houso did not desiro to challenge the people's will, but it was not bound to accept any measure which a minority Government by disreputable bargaining and jerrymandering, had managed to squeezo through the Houso of Commons.

The House of Lords, ho argued, might amend a Labour Government's legislation, but its transformation into Conservative legislation would bo an action which neither a Liberal nor a Labour Government could accept.

The Lords adopted his amendment by 82 votes to 31, a majority against the Government of 51 votes. This means that the House rejected all the main clauses of the Bill.