THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21032, 22 May 1930, Page 9

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

FINANCE BILL DEBATED. MOTION FOR REJECTION. (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, May 20, In the House of Commons to-night Sir Robert Horne (Con.) moved the rejection of the motion for the second reading of the Finance Bill. He said that owing to the Budget’s heavy additional taxation British industry was faced with increased difficulties in competing successfully in the world’s markets. In social services this country had gone twice as far as any other, and by increasing that expenditure—for which revenue could only come from already overburdened industry—the existence of the social services themselves was threatened. Sir Herbert Samuel (Lib.), in supporting the Bill, recalled that the burden of rate relief left by the late Government’s measure was very heavy, and had been estimated at £24,000,000 by Mr Neville Chamberlain. The present Chancellor was determined in this way to meet his obligations. Perhaps he was doing more. If there was the smallest improvement in trade the Budget was likely to yield a surplus next year, and perhaps a considerable' surplus the year after that. It was a tribute to British democracy that the Labour Government had not yielded to temptation to put aside obligations regarding debts. It was a grim Budget, but he thought it was not unjust. Mr F. Pethick-Lawrence (Financial Secretary to the Treasury) said the large size of the Budget was mainly due to the aftermath of the war. THE MOTION DEFEATED. SECOND READING CARRIED. LONDON, May 21. (Received May 21, at 7 p.m.) After a long debate Sir Robert Horne’s motion to reject the Budget Bill was defeated by 282 votes to 206, and the Bill was read a second time. QUESTIONS ON UNEMPLOYMENT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 20. In the House of Commons, several questions on employment matters were addressed to the Lord Privy Seal (Mr J- H. Thomas). He said that as a result of his discussion with representatives of the associations of motor manufacturers and traders, he was confident that a real co-operative effort was being made by the industry to develop trade! He added that it had been decided that the industry should take steps to organise a representative exhibit of British motor products at the British Empire Trade Exhibition at Buenos Aires next year. He stated that the Government of the Union of South Africa, had placed in England an order for 46,000 tons of steel rails and various permanent heavy accessories.