HOUSE OF COMMONS

Southland Times, Issue 19173, 18 February 1924, Page 5

HOUSE OF COMMONS

THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY CONCLUSION OF THE DEBATE MR MACDONALD IN REPLY. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.! (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON; February 15. (Received February i 7, 7.5 pm.! The debate on the Government’s policy was continued in the House of Commons to-night. Mr Austen Chamberlain supported Mr Asquith on the Poplar issue, and requested the Premier to make his position clearer in regard to the conditions precedent to his resignation; also to define his attitude on the Capital Levy. As regards Imperial Preference he said Mr Lloyd George and Mr Henderson were bound to support motions which were consistent with a reduction in present duties as they concurred in the resolution of the Imperial Conference of 1921. As regards preferences requiring new duties he appealed to the Government to put in these preferences and simultaneously reduce the duties on tea, sugar and tobacco sufficiently to compensate the British consumers. It was a matter transcending party quarrel® which should be kept out. Dealing with the dominions he said it was worth while adjusting food duties to subserve the great interests of the Empire. Mr Ramsay MacDonald stated that the Committee of Imperial Defence was exploring the whole problem of defence in a much wider sense than previously, not merely from the viewpoint of the strength ©f the Army, Navy and Air Force although these questions were under consideration, but from the viewpoint of civil, foreign and international policy. Continuing, the Premier assured the House that the Estimates were being scrutinised with rigid care by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was a rigid economist, and who would have charmed the heart of Gladstone or Harcourt. Regarding the question of the resignation of the Government in the event of an adverse vote, Mr MacDonald said the Government would not remain in office five minMites after a division of the House deprived it of its sense of dignity. He promised to personally look into the matter of pensions for “the rankers” and declared, amidst Ministerial laughter, that “the Capital Levy is in the same position as Protection, namely, it cannot be enacted by the present Parliament.’’ Nevertheless he would not be happy until the National Debt was reduced by honest means. He was determined to reject dishonest means like repudiation •nd infiation. The Premier said that he did not propose to deal with Preference because that question would come up in its proper place when resolutions were submitted to the House. Seeing that a day had been set apart for discussion of the Poplar issue, Mr Macdonald did not desire to discuss its merits, but he thought that Mr Asquith had inadvertently misled the House on the question ©f surcharge. He hoped the House would not treat the matter as a party question. Viscount Curzon asked if the Government would consult the dominions before reaching a definite conclusion regarding Rational defence. Mr MacDonald replied: “The hope has How grown up justly that the dominions must be consulted. We are in close contact with them on all questions concerning them.’’ Discussing the question of compensation biaimed from Russia with regard to the treatment of British fishermen, the Premier said Russia was now anxious to meet the British Government’s wishes on all outstanding questions in view of the recognition of the Soviet. The debate on the Government’s declaration of its policy concluded without the government being challenged. HOW THE MONEY GOES. OVERLAPPING IN RELIEF. MB ASQUITH WANTS REFORM. LONDON, February 15. Mr Asquith’s challenge to the Government has become a first-class political sensation. Mr Wheatley (Health Minister! rescinded the order made in 1922, which was intended to check the extravagance of the Poplar •Poor Law Guardians in giving pauper relief on a sc.le exceeding the trade union wages. The Guardians ignored the order knd spent £93,1'00 in excess of the scale, they are now spending £ll,OOO weekly in Relieving 30,000 persons. The liberals, instead of throwing out |he Government, claim to have discovered alternative. It is understood that when fhe full-dress debate is staged in the Commons, Mr Asquith will propose to make a clean sweep of the Poor Law system by a Bill acceptable to all parties, taking relief |>ut of the atmosphere of pauperism by means of a new administration and forming committees consisting of employers and employees, functioning under borough and bounty councils, and preventing wasteful overlapping. Single families’ relief will not Exceed the father’s moral trade union wages. An instance has been mentioned ©f eight different bodies now furnishing relief to the same family. The Government is issuing a White *Paper explaining the case for the Poplar Guardians before the debate. i The Woolwich Borough Council, in which the Socialists have a majority, is paring charwomen 70/6 weekly instead of the authorised rate of 41/-. The auditor (directed attention to the matter, but the council refused to reduce the amount.

THE POPLAR DISCUSSION. A LIBERAL MOVE (Reuter’s Telegram.) LONDON, February 16. After a meeting of the Liberal Party to consider what steps should be taken in consequence of Mr Asquith’s speech in regard to Poplar, a Liberal, Mr Frank Briant (North Lambeth’ gave notice in the House of Commons to move a motion condemning the action of the Minister of Health in cancelling the Poplar order and remitting any likely surcharge thereunder, this being calculated to encourage illegality and extravagance. The motion urges that the real remedy for the difficulties or necessitous areas is to be found in reform Of the Poor Law system. CABINET AND ITS PARTY. KEEPING IN TOUCH. LXJNDON, February 16. The Labour Party’s Committee to act as a liaison between the party and the Government, has been appointed. It comprises Messrs Smillie, Lansbury, Wallhead, Morel, Hayes, Maxton. Snell, Scurr, Edwards and Johnson and Misses Jewson and Lawrence. The Government nominate three other members. The Government’s first Bill proposes that an additional £600,000 be spent in unemjjloymeLt payments. LABOUR’S CHIEF DANGER. COMES FROM WITHIN. LONDON, February 17. (Received February 18, 1.30 a.m.) Mr J. L. Garvin, writing in the Observer, says: The chief danger to the Government comes from within. The extremists by methods which Australian precedents have made familia, are controlling a Vigilance Committee for the purpose of governing the Government and dominating Downing Street from Eecleston Square. At the end of it there must be either a break-out of Ministerial policy or a Break-up of Labour rank*.