BRITISH POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3673, 5 August 1924, Page 20

BRITISH POLITICS

THE HOUSING BILL. LONDON, July 27. Sir Patrick Hastings (Attorney-General), speaking at Wallsend, referring to tile Housing Bill, said he saw only one way to get building materials, and that was for the Alinistry to fix prices. If the manufacturers would not sell at those prices the Minister would have to be empowered to take over their works and produce the materials at a fair price. A Bill embodying these provisions nad been introduced in the House of Commons. It might surprise many people to know that compensation would not bo paid under the Bill for loss of property. There would be such a fight over the Bill as the House of Commons had never seen. If it were passed the public would see the first letters of Socialism written on tho wall. If it were rejected ernment would probably go to the country. He predicted that the next Parliament would contain 300 LabotuKes. DISARM AAIENT. LONDON, July 28. In the House of Commons, Air R. AiacDonald, replying to Mr J. M. Kenworthy, 6aid that the Government regarded the reduction of armaments as one of the essential conditions of national security. It required, however, to be prepared for by a policy which would create confidence between the nations. Any ill-timed move would do incalculable harm. A VISIONARY PROPOSAL. LONDON, July 29. In the Commons Air AlacDonald was asked whether with a view to binding the Empire closer he would consider inviting the dominions to appoint representatives to a specially convened conference for the purpose of inquiring into the question ot an Imperial Parliament in which the dominions would be represented. Air MacDonald replied that his opinion was that such a thing would be quite useless. LADY ASTOR’S PICTURE. LONDON, July 50. The unveiling in the corridor of the House of Commons of a picture of Lady Astor’s introduction to the House aroused the liveliest opposition. A large tion was signed urging the Speaker not to permit the hanging of portraits of living members without the sense of the House being taken. July 30. In the House of Commons Air h. W. Jowett (First Commissioner of Works) said that his predecessor gave permission to hang the painting of Lady Astor, but owing to numerous objections recently lodged by members of all parties he was ascertaining the general opinion of the

House before giving permission for ihe picture to be permanently hung. THE HIGH COMMISSIONERS. LONDON, July 29. The Colonial Secretary (Mr J. H. Thomas) announced in the House of Commons that the High Commissioners for tho dominions and India would take precedence immediately after the British and dominion Cabinet Alinisters on ceremonial occasions; but when no British dominion Cabinet Ministers were present, the High Commissioners would take precedence immediately after that accorded to the Secretaries of State by the table of precedence. UNEAIPI.OYAIENT. LONDON, July 31. In the House of Commons Air Philip Snowden (Chancellor of the Exchequer) outlined the Government’s unemployment policy. He claimed that Labour had a positive remedy, but it could not effect a cure in a day. He said he would welcome the development of the canal system. He regretted that the railway companies were not showing much enthusiasm in reequipping their lines. The difficulty was the companies’ duty to their shareholders. If the railways were nationally controlled the position would be very different. The Great Western, during the winter, was prepared to spend £13,000,000; the North-Eastern £19,000,000; the Alidiand £13,500,000; and the Southern £10,000,000. The country was already spending £40,000,000 a year upon its roads, and the Government had approved a further roading programme, costing £13,500,000. Drainage schemes were under consideration, including the draining of the basin of the Great Ouse. He promised an early bill to assist electrical development. The Government had decided to subsidise the beet sugar manufactured in Britain to the extent of 19s 9d per hundredweight, the subsidy to continue for 10 years on a diminishing scale. The Government had been assured that if a subsidy were granted six iactories would be started immediately, each employing 500 persons. In order to guard Freetrade principles the Government would impose an excise duty of 9s 9d, equivalent to a preferential customs duty. Air Lloyd George twitted the Chancellor with reserving the Labour Party’s real remedy until after the next election. He expected that it would consist of the abolition of private enterprise and the confiscation of all industries. The proposals on behalf of the beet sugar would leave the industry worse off than before the last Budget. Sir L. Worthington-Evans said that the works outlined in the Chancellor’s speech would not give another man additional work during the coming winter The Government was producing Tabbits from a hat. . . The motion to reduce the Minister of Labour’s salary was rejected by 204 vote 3 to 204. BRITIAN’S EXPORT TRADE. LONDON, July 30. In the House of Commons. Mr Sidney Webb (President of the Board of Trade) announced the appointment of a Committee of Inquiry regarding the conditions and prospects of the British export trade. Sir Arthur Balfour will be chairman of the Commission. EMIGRATION AND THE HOUSING PROBLEAI. ' LONDON, July 01. In the House of Commons, replying to a ouestion, in the course of which attention was drawn to the empire Settlement Bureau’s offer of assisted passages to Australia to carpenters, bricklayers, plasterers masons, and plumbers, and a suggestion was made that these men should not be encouraged to emigrate in view of the importance of the retention ot skilled men for house-building, Mr W. Lunn (Parliamentary Secretary for Overseas Trade) said he considered that interference was unnecessary.

SINGAPORE BASE. LONDON, July 51. The Conservatives in tho House of Commons again attempted to reverse the Singapore decision. Air Amery, in moving a reduction of the Naval vote as a protest against the naval programme, urged a comprehensive scheme of replacement of the reversal of the decision in regard to Singapore, the importance of which he said, did not lie in the Pacific, but in the Indian Ocean, which it would effectually cover from outside invasion. Air J. M. Kenworthy (Lib.) said he thought the Government was absolutely right! He believed that there was a Liberal-Democratic movement in Japan which would respond to an invitation to a disarmament conference. Air C. Bellairs (Con.) expressed the opinion that if Britain were to bear Gie present burden of armaments the dominions ought to help her. Air C. G. Ammon (Parliamentary secretary to the Admiralty) said that tho Prime Alinister was fully occupied with other matters, but as soon as posiblse every step would be taken to convene in international conference. In the meantime the Government would maintain what it considered tho light margin of safety without doing anything which might be considered provocative. All he Washington signatories had abided by their agreement, and nobody had made a greater reduction than lie saw no reason for a revision of the Singapore decision. He denied that there was strong feeling in Australia, where there was a division of opinion on the matter, and he pointed out, in view of tlie distance of Australia from Japan, that it was not so easy for the latter to attack Australia as might bo thought. Singapore gave Air MacDonald something to bargain with, and failing a satisfactory

decision Britain would regretfully have to establish a base. Mr Amery’s motion was negatived by 228 votes to 182. LABOUR IN POWER. NEW YORK, August 2. At Williamstown, Massacuussets) R. H. Tawney, counsellor of the British Labour Party, delivered the first of a scries of addresses on the history and policy of the party before the Institute of Politics. Ho said that the party was going to oe a permanent phenomenon in English politics. It never had been revolutionary in its methods, but it was and would continue to be revolutionary in its aim. CONSERVATIVE DEFEATS LABOURITE. LONDON, August 1. The Holland-with-Boston by-election, which was rendered necessary by the sudden death of Mr W. S. Royce (Labour) resulted as follows : Mr Dean (Con.) 12,907 Mr Dalton (Lab.) 12,101 Mr Winfrey (Lib.) 7,096 Mr Dalton, speaking after the declaration of the poll, said that the Liberals Lad only run a candidate to keep mm out. The Liberals during the campaign had stooped to the depths of degradation. The Torries were straight opponents, but the Liberals were crooked. His Majesty, who was attending the Goodwood races desired to hear the result of the election, and in the absence of telegraphic facilities, the racing experts “tick-tacked” the figures to the Royal stand.