LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Otago Witness, Issue 3899, 4 December 1928, Page 29

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

REFORM IN ENGLAND. BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT. RUGBY, November 26. The main legislative task of the present session of Parliament will be begun in the House of Commons this evening, when the debate on the second reading of the Local Government Reform Bill, which embodies the Gow rnment’s proposals for reform of the Pour Law and of the local rating system, will be opened. To-mor-row and Wednesday have also been allotted for the debate, on which a division is expected about midnight on Wednesday. Although the result is not in doubt, strong opposition to the Bill, which is a complicated measure of 115 clauses and 12 schedules, is likely to be encountered. The Government hopes to make substantial progress before the Christmas recess with the committee stage of the measure. The Minister of Health (Mr Neville Chamberlain) will move the second reading to-day, and it is expected that his speech will be a lengthy one. SECOND READING OF THE BILL. LONDON, November 27. Mr Neville Chamberlain managed to hold the interest of the House throughout a speech of two hours and a-half when moving the second reading of the complicated 155-page Local Government Bill, which is generally known as the Debating Bill, and is generally believed to have an important effect on the destinies of the Ministry. Mr Chamberlain insisted that the Bill was a major reform in the local government system, which had not been altered for 40 years. “It does nofe,. constitute a donation to a needy relative,” he said, “ and it is not a bribe to the ratepayers, but a long delayed act of justice which will remove at a stroke a burden of £24,000,000 from the back of industry. Three-quarters of the relief is in the neediest areas. I am certain that the underlying principles will ultimately reach the Statute Book as a courageous and comprehensive attempt to remove anomalies from the local government system.”

Mr Arthur Greenwood submitted Labour’s motion of rejection, objecting chiefly to the perpetuation of the evils of the poor law system and failure to make unemployment a national responsibility. He described the Bill as the last kick which would send the Government to oblivion. November 29. The House of Commons continued to debate on the Local Government Reform Bill, which was read a second time by 344 votes to 165. Mr Sidnev Webb protested that the Bill was really six or seven measures bound together, and it was an outrage to pass this in a single session. Sir Kingsley Wood, summing up on behalf of the Government, emphasised the relief that agriculture and distressed industries would receive under the Bill. November 29. Contrary to'certain forecasts, no Government supporters voted against the Local Goverment Bill, and seven Liberals voted for the second reading. Owing to a cold Mr Lloyd George was unable to attend yesterday to take part in the debate, but he intends to lead the Liberal attack in committee when the clauses of the Bill are examined and both the Liberal and Labour Parties have tabled a series of amendments.