HOUSE OF COMMONS

Southland Times, Issue 19099, 17 November 1923, Page 5

HOUSE OF COMMONS

CENSURE MOTION DEFEATED THE LABOUR ATTACK A LISTLESS DEBATE. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, November 15. (Received November 16, 5.5 p.m.) When the House of Commons met to-day the chief business set down on the Order Paper was consideration of a motion of censure of which notice had been given on behalf of the Labour Party. The Peers’ and public galleries were packed while the Ministerial benches gradually filled. The debate opened listlessly. THE LABOUR ATTACK. Mr Ramsay MacDonald (Leader of the Party) moved: That this House censures the Government for its neglect to deal with the pressing needs of the unemployed, regrets its failure to devise and pursue a national policy calculated to restore the influence of the country abroad, to re-establish international peace and trade, and condemns the decision of the Government to leave millions of British people in want in order to fight an election on an undisclosed scheme of tariffs and Imperial Preference, conceived by sections of capitalists in their own interests, the effect of which must be to increase the cost of living and encourage the formation of anti-social trusts and combines. Mr MacDonald, who spoke for an hour and a quarter, ’ was fluent and eloquent, though he seemed at times a little weary. He aroused laughter by suggesting that the political horizon was darkened by a flight homeward bound of political prodigal sons. The Government’s fiscal programme was like “a pig in the poke,” though he was doubtful if it even contained the pig. The Labour leader pressed the Government to define what it meant by meat. What Joseph Chamberlain said twenty years ago was true to-day: “You cannot give Imperial Preference without imposing a tax on food.” The Prime Minister was going to smash our exports and crucify trade. THE PREMIER IN REPLY. Mr Baldwin commenced his speech with a review of the European situation and then passed to a clear enunciation of the tariff policy, which aroused continual Conservative cheers. “It is easy for our critics to say,” remarked the Premier, “that there has been lack of foresight in connection w T ith unemployment. The Government had hoped that things would get better, but owing to the occupation of the Ruhr, a settlement in Europe has been postponed for years. This is the outstanding reason for the proposed drastic fiscal changes. In every market we are met by higher tariffs. In America the tariff wall is 75 per cent, higher than before the war, in Italy 100 per cent., and Spain 125 per cent., while a greater peril for the future is India’s right to impose tariffs.” Mr Baldwin contended that there was a possibility of enormously increased exports from Germany when that country began to trade freely. The most obvious place for these goods to go first was to the most open and the freest market Germany could get. The Safeguarding of Industries Act was far too limited in .its application to deal with the position. Mr Baldwin concluded: ‘1 would not risk the existence of the Party, of which I have been elected leader so recently, as a governing force unless I was convinced from the bottom of my heart that what I propose is right. (Cheers). I do not claim infallibility—l may be wrong—but if so, '<ove me so in the country.” LLOYD GEORGE TRENCHANT. Mr Lloyd George followed. He said the Jrime Minister’s speech would deepen the amazement of the country at an ill-con-sidered, precipitate and foolish decision to plunge the country into a general election. The only achievement of the Government had been to promote Liberal unity. The Prime Minister had raised an old controversy which not only divided the nation but his own Cabinet. At that moment one of his pockets was bulging with the resignation of Lord Derby. (Opposition laughter and Liberal cries of “Deny Itl”) Mr Lloyd George: For a week Mr Baldwin has been imploring Lord Birkenhead to save him from disaster. I expected to hear from the Prime Minister something about his policy for the dominions. What is it? The proposals were put forward at the Imperial Conference with a real desire to unite and strengthen the Empire and promote trade relations between the dominions and this country. Has the Prime Minister nothing better than preserved crayfish? It is a tinker’s policy. What the dominions w’ant is to bring their products under conditions which will enable them to compete favourably with every other country in the world. In 1907, the Liberal Government put forward a policy for improved transport relations with the dominions, but it was turned down because the Prime Minister of Australia was waiting for Tariff Reform. The policy of 1907 was better than the Government’s wretched policy of Preference for tinned stuffs. The proposal is to increase taxation in order, to relieve unemployment by putting more money into the pockets of the farmer landowner.” Mr D. Kirkwood (Labour) interjected: You taught them those tricks. Mr Lloyd George: Instead of devoting his time to the settlement of Europe, the Prime Minister is tearing down a system which, with all its defects, has accumulated wealth which enabled Britain to go through a most exhausting war. Mrs Philipson, in her maiden speech, congratulated the Prime Minister on his courageous and sincere action. For the first time she, as a woman, had a chance of judging this kind of thing. They would be big factors in the situation. A tariff on goods could be abandoned if not a success, but Labour’s policy spelt ruin. Mr J. R. Clynes twitted the Government with fast committing themselves to the policy, then proceeding with an inquiry as to its effects. Sir Philip Lloyd-Graeme wound up the debate. He said the Government’s solution was advisedly designed to meet unique conditions, especially competition from countries paying lower wages. The motion was rejected by 285 votes 190. AN ELECTION CRY. '-FREE EMPIRE BREAKFAST TABLE.” LONDON, November 15. Phe Central News states that the popular cry in the Government’s appeal to the country may be summed up in the phrase, “A free Empire breakfast table,” which will include the removal of duties on tea and sugar produced within the Empire. The proposal of the Government to assist agriculture by a subsidy of £1 per acre on all arable land on condition that a minimum of 30s weekly is paid to labourers will, it is e/imated, cost £11,000,000 annually. THE LIBERAL PARTY. FREE TRADE CAMPAIGN OPENED. LONDON, November 15. (Received November 16, 11.0 p.m.) Mr Asquith, in the course of a speech at Albert Hall in opening the Liberal campaign, said that while the Baldwin Government was studiously vague and nebulous at Home, the dominion Premiers afforded a refreshing contrast. Mr Bruce said: “If there is to be no tax on wheat or meat, and if we are going also to shut the door on other methods, we have closed t! ' door to a great extent, to any real stride forward in Empire development.” Mr Asq Jth: “So out of the mouth of one of the dominion statesmen, who was most pronounced in his views on Empire Preference, the Government s policy is foredoomed and condunned in advance.”