THE COAL MINES BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20964, 1 March 1930, Page 13

THE COAL MINES BILL

A CRUCIAL AMENDMENT. DEFEATED BY NINE VOTES. TENSE FEELING IN HOUSE. (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) ' (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, February 27. In the House of Commons this evening a Liberal amendment to the Coal Mines Bill, seeking to confine the schemes in part 1 of the Bill to the marketing of coal, and omitting the schemes for regulating the output, was rejected by 280 votes to 271. The Conservatives who supported the amendment, constituted, of course, the greater portion of the minority vote. The result was received with great Labour cheering. THE HOUSE CROWDED. EXCITEMENT DURING DEBATE. LONDON, February 27. (Received Feb. 28, at 5.5 p.m.) The division was preceded by scenes rarely seen in the House of Commons in modern times. Every party had whipped up its supporters to the last man. There was the tensest feeling in all parts of the crowded House when Mr Clement Davies moved the crucial amendment. The impatience was so great that he cut his speech very short. Sir L. Worthington Evans led the Conservative attack, describing the Bill as a new departure in the economics of politics and the latest form of Socialism, seeking to attain nationalisation through the ruin of the coal industry. Mr A. Sevan (Lab.) vigorously defended the Bill, quoting the German success with the quota system and attacking Mi* Llyod George. He said the latter had used the measure throughout to attempt to put new life into the corpse of Liberalism. He said that every Liberal was voting for lower wages for the miners and more accidents in collieries. Mr Lloyd George pointed out that the mine owners had rejected the Bill as a whole, and 90 per cent, of the exporters voted .against it. The quota system meant a limited output, which would inevitably increase costs. Mr T. Griffiths (Lab.) said that the only bright spot was the Welsh tinplate industry, which was run on a system of quotas and fixed prices. The_ debate was carried on in the midst of excited cheers. Impatience increased as division time approached, and visitors in the galleries had to he restrained from standing in their places. When the motion was put Mr Lloyd George and his son immediately went to the division lobby, while several other Liberals remained in their places. As the members filed back Mr Lloyd George received a roar of derisive Ministerial cheers and shouts Mr MacDonald 'was welcomed by thunderous and continuous applause from the Labour benches. He stood for a moment visibly affected by emotion. Thera was a vast difference between the division on December 19 and that to-night.. The Government in December did, not realise its danger till members went into the division lobbies, hut to-day it was most apprehensive. Every Conservative present, except one who abstained from voting, voted against the Government. Most of the 54 Liberals followed Mr Lloyd George and did the same, but four Liberals and four' Independents voted with the Government. Eight .. Liberals, including Mr Walter Runciman, Sir Donald Maclean, Sir Godfrey Collings, and Mr E. D. Simon, saved the Government’a life by not voting.

FEATURE OF THE DEBATE. SPEECH BY MR GRAHAM. LONbON, February 27. (Received Peb. 28, at 10 p.m.) 1 Tsle closing speech ' by Mr Walter Graham (president of the- Board of Trade), on behalf of the Government, was a brillaint feature of the debate. It was full of close argument, and was delivered without a note, as he has a wonderful memory. When Labour’s escape from defeat, was assured Mr Graham went to his room and called a doctor in. He did not collapse, but the strain of recent 'Vork at Geneva and in Parliament has been manifestly too great. He has been ordered to take a holiday out of London. Sir W. Edge, who voted against the Liberal amendment, later tendered Mr Lloyd George his resignation as Liberal Whip.