DIVISIONS IN COMMONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27385, 10 May 1950, Page 7

DIVISIONS IN COMMONS

One Day’s Notice Proposed LIBERAL APPROACH TO CONSERVATIVES NZPA Special Correspondent Rec. 7.20 p.m. LONDON, May 9. The Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, Mr Clement Davies, has proposed to the Conservatives that the two Opposition parties should give the Government one day’s notice in advance whenever they propose to call for a division in the House of Commons. Mr Davies does not suggest that this should apply to private members who may wish to call attention to an urgent matter by moving an adjournment, and proposes that the agreement, if approved by the Conservatives, should operate for the balance of the present session only. Mr Davies is reported to hold very strongly that the present situation by which members of all parties are tied night and day to the House in case of a snap division is imposing too great a strain upon Commoners and impeding the urgent business of the country. The Conservative Party Leader, Mr Churchill, during the week-end, issued a statement defending Conservative action in calling the recent divisions. In it he said: “Matters on which his Majesty’s Opposition has felt it necessary to record its votes since the general election have involved questions of policy and principle which it could not have allowed to pass unnoticed without dereliction of duty to the millions of electors who voted against. the Socialists at the general election.” , Mr Churchill also denied that the policy of the Conservatives in demanding divisions had caused differences of opinion among the leaders of the party. “ Each case was considered carefully on its merits and full agreement prevailed,” said Mr Churchill. It is suggested in several quarters, however, that “ full agreement did not prevail” among the Conservatives on Mr Churchill’s recent proposal to set up a commission to inquire into electoral reform. Mr Churchill, it is understood, did not warn members of his party that he intended making this offer, which, in fact, commands by no means wholehearted support. The Liberals are, however, making Conservative acceptance of electoral reform an absolute condition of any co-operation or agreement between the two parties. At the moment, in view of the unequivocal opposition expressed by the Parliamentary Liberals to co-operating with the Conservatives and of the strong reservations which many Conservatives express to entering into any agreement with the Liberals, it seems unlikely that there will be any closer association between the two parties.