HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11930, 28 October 1919, Page 5

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

United Press Association —By Elec trie Telegraph—Copyright. London, October 23. A curious stinatiou has arisen in House of Commons as a result of the Government’s defeat by 185 votes to 113 on an amendment to the Aliens Bilk The amendment related to the clause providing that no alien should hold a pilotage certificate. Mr E. Shortt (Home Secretary) pointed out that snch a clause would conflict with the Pilotage Act of 1918, and detrimenally affect French pilots, anc he proposed an amendment to meat the difficulty. The House rejected the amendment, whereupon Mr Bonar Law immediately moved an adjournment till Monday, though he ridiculed the idea that the Government was going to resign. The debate showed that a majority of the members of the House of Commons desired more drastic measures against aliens than the Government was embodying in the Bill. The ajonrnment will enable the Government to reconsider the whole problem. Although it is admitted on all hands that the Government’s defeat will not precipitate' a crisis, the newspapers claim that it is a significant of the determination of the House of Commons to reassert its independence and restore its control over the Executive. The revolt was headed by over a hundred Coalition Unionists, who demanded the strengthening of the restrictions upon aliens -[and the carrying out of election pledges, too may of which have been neglected. The Government survived two bad divisions on Wednesday on the same Bill, when the support of fifty-three Labour members and independent Liberals practically saved it. Labour, however, refused to let yesterday’s opportunity slip, and voted against the Government, while Sir Donald Maclean and other “Wee Frees’’ did not vote:— Aus, N.Z Gable Assn.