ANOTHER DEFEAT

Southland Times, Issue 19279, 25 June 1924, Page 5

ANOTHER DEFEAT

BRITISH HOUSING BILL LABOUR MINISTRY’S REVERSE NO POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Reuter’s Telegrams.) LONDON, June. 24. (Received June 24, 8.10 pm.) The Government sustained another defeat in the House of Commons by a vote of 315 to 175. In consequence of an Op-position-Liberal combination in favour of a motion to refer the Housing Financial Provisions Bill to a committee of the whole House instead of a special committee as the Government sought to impose. The defeat, however, was one sustained on procedure and not principle, and no political significance, therefore, was attached to it and other business was proceeded with. Prior to this incident the Bill, which embodies the financial resolutions, had already passed the second reading after an Opposition motion for the rejection had been defeated by 269 to 205. The Opposition argued that it was unbound in theory and practice and financially was thoroughly bad. The Liberals also expressed some discontent, and it was the motion of Mr Masterman, a Liberal, which ultimately resulted in the Government’s discomfiture.