BRITISH COAL CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19838, 10 July 1926, Page 11

BRITISH COAL CRISIS

PASSAGE OF HOURS BILL. HIGH FEELING IN EVIDENCE. OBSTRUCTION IN THE LORDS. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, July 8. (Received July 9, at 10 p.m.) The Eight Hours Bill was read a third time in the House of Lords, and afterwards received the Royal assent. When the final stage of the Bill was reached in the House of Lords. Lord Parmoor and Lord Arnold lengthily discussed the measure. Viscount Cecil walked out, leaving the Earl of Balfour the sole occupant of the Treasury benches. Finally the Marquis of Salisbury walked in and angrily moved the closure saying it was obvious what the opponents of the Bill were doing. Lord Arnold persisted and a group of members of the House of Commons standing at the bar cheered him. The Chancellor, amid hubbub, said he would put the motion on his own responsibility. The Commoners kept up the interjections, and the Chancellor finally ordered the clearance of the bar. The Commoners slowly dispersed and the closure was carried by 44 votes to four. Lord Arnold demanded a division on the third reading but did not persist and the measure passed its third reading without a division. The members of the Commons were then summoned to the House of Lords to hear the Royal Wararnt read. This was punctuated by coughs, subdued remarks, and cries of protest from a group of miner Commoners. A heated incident followed. As the members of the Commons were filing back through the lobby the Conservatives and Labourites engaged in lively verbal interchanges. The Conservative, Mr E. R. Bird, suddenly turned, shouting ‘‘Did you say that of me?” and struck out at Mr P.' Gardner (Labour), who was behind him. Other members intervened and prevented a conflict. Mr -U. Kirkwood (Labour), later sought to adjourn the House to discuss the incident, but he was ruled out of order.— A. and N.Z. Cable. A GLEAM OF HOPE. MINERS’ DELEGATE CONFERENCE. . LONDON, July 8. (Received July 9, at 9 p.m.) A movement is afoot to get a special Delegate’s Conference of miners summoned. Some of the men’s leaders hope that the result will bo a declaration by the miners in favour of the Royal Commission’s report as a basis for a settlement. —A. and N.Z. Cable. MONEY FROM RUSSIA. A FURTHER CONTRIBUTION. MOSCOW, July 8 (Received July 9, at 10.30 p.m) An official of the Trades Association Agency announces that the Central Council of the Russian Labour Unions has resolved to transfer to the British Miners’ Federation 370,000 roubles collected from the members of the Soviet Labour Unions. —Reuter.