BRITISH POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 18

BRITISH POLITICS

HOUSING IN BRITAIN. LONDON, July 21. The Government’s total number of defeats was brought up to 10 after two adverse votes in the Committee stage of the Housing Bill. In the first place a Liberal amendment was passed by 201 votes to 155, and secondly a Labour amendment which the Government accepted was rejected by 137 votes to 119. In both cases, however, Mr J. Wheatley (Minister of Health) accepted the decision of the House. In the course of the debate Mr Wheatley, to everyone’s surprise, announced a virtual agreement with the Builders' Union regarding the provision of skilled workers. He outlined a scheme for speeding up the process of apprenticeship by the enlistment of the assistance of the technical schools’ evening classes, and also a scheme for the promotion of semi-skilled labourers. SITUATION IN INDIA. LONDON, July 22. The House of Lords debated the Indian situation on the initiative cf Lord Peel (formerly Secretary of State for India), who asked for a full Government statement of policy. He specially drew attention to the general constitutional situation, the question of applying the report of the Lee Commission dealing with the acceleration of the Indianisation of the Civil Services, the provincialisation of the other services, and the improvement of the financial conditions and security of tenure of European Civil servants for the Indian service, whose recruitment in Britain had recently been becoming difficult. Lord Ollivier (Secretary of State for India), in replying, declared that, owing to the magnitude of the issues involved, it was impossible to pass judgment on the Lee Commission’s recommendations within such a short period. Meantime he sympathised with the claims of the Civil Service. He declared that the recruiting in Britain of certain services was temporarily suspended under the recommendations of the report, but the British recruiting of the pivotal services continued. Concerning the latter, he said he did not fear that he -would be unable to get sufficient applications. Regarding constitutional reform, Lord Ollivier declined to prejudge the report of the committee which at present was exhaustively exploring the situation. EMPIRE -WIRELESS. LONDON, July 23. In the House of Commons the Post-master-General (Mr V. Hartshorn) announced that the Government had decided to adopt the main recommendations of the Donald Imperial Wireless Committee. Asked about the cost, Mr Hartshorn said that Mr Marconi would erect a station for the Government at cost price, plus 10 per cent, contractor's profit. The minimum was fixed at £58,000. If additional units were required for Australia and South Africa they would cost a maximum of £36,000. Nothing would be paid by the Government unless the tests were satisfactory. The contracts would not be valid unless they were approved by the House of Commons; therefore there would bo an opportunity for discussion. Mr Hartshorn added that the Government would only accept and pay for installations if they fulfilled certain minimum guarantees—namely, communication at the rate of 100 words per minute for the following average number of hours daily throughout the year:—With Canada 18, with South Africa 11, with India 12, and with Australia seven. Communication would only take place in the hours of darkness and one or two hours before and after twilight.—Reuter, hours before and after twilight. HOUSING BILL CARRIED. LONDON, July 25. Amid Labour cheers the House of Commons carried the third reading of the Government’s Housing Bill. A Conservative motion for its rejection was defeated by 226 votes to 131. Mr J. Wheatley (Minister of Health) admitted that the Bill was not Socialism. He said he was sorry that he was not in a position to introduce a Socialist measure, but the country was not ready far Socialism. This statement was received with loud Opposition cheers. The Bill was read a first time in til* House of Lords.