BRITISH POLITICS

Southland Times, Issue 19294, 12 July 1924, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

A GOVERNMENT DEFEAT CONSERVATIVES RETAIN LEWES SEAT AGRICULTURAL WAGES. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, July 10. The Lewes by-election, held owing to the appointment of Colonel Campion (Conservative) as Governor of West Australia, resulted: Capt. Tufton Beamish (Con.) .. 9584 Capt. Basil Hall (Labour) .. 6112 Mr Howard Williams (Liberal) 2718 Captain Beamish commanded the Invincible in the Falkland Islands battle. The Government was defeated at the Standing Committee stage on the Agricultural Wages Bill in connection with a clause providing that Agricultural Wages Committees, subject toconfirmation by the Agricultural Wage Board, shall fix the minimum rates of wages. An amendment to strike out confirmation by the Wages Board was carried by 27 to 17. Mr Noel Buxton, Minister of Agriculture, said he would consider the situation. The acceptance by the Minister of Labour (Mr T. Shaw) of the Liberal proposal relative to the non-payment of insurance benefits to persons involved in trade disputes, was responsible for a back bench Labour revolt against the front bench in the House of Commons, bringing the debate on the Unemployment Insurance Bill to an abrupt termination. Labour back benches shouted angrily. Mr Neil McLean declared that the front bench was always tumbling head over heels in order to accept Liberal and Conservative proposals while it ignored its own people. Ministers ought to join those parties. Finally, amid ironical Opposition laughter, Mr J. R. Clynes proposed the adjournment of the debate, stating that the Government would consider the matter. The proposal was agreed to.