COAL MINES BILL

Southland Times, Issue 20963, 21 December 1929, Page 7

COAL MINES BILL

CLOSE VOTING GOVERNMENT SURVIVES EIGHT VOTES TO SPARE LLOYD GEQRGE’S ATTACK (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.15 p.m.) London, December 19. The House of Commons resumed the debate on the second reading of the Coal Bill to-day, when Mr Lloyd George made his eagerly-awaited speech. He declared that the Bill contained the worst features of socialism and individualism without the redeeming features of either. The two provisions of the Bill which he approved were those relating to a reduction of hours and the establishment of a Na'ipnal Wages Board. The Bill was an owners’ measure pure and simple with the object of raising prices and limiting output. He estimated that the Bill would increase the cost of coal by 3/6 a ton, which would disastrously affect all the exporting industries. Even an advance of 2/6 would add £600,000 to the costs of the cotton trade, which was already in a bad way. It was trying to vitalize coal mining by the transfusion of blood from other industries already anaemic, while for the people it was equivalent to a hearth tax. Germany's experience showed that the grouping of mines could be effected without, increasing coal prices and reducing miners’ wages. “Dear Coal” Bill. Mr Winston Churchill said the measure was most aptly described as a “dear coal” Bill. It was a deliberate attempt to levy a new indirect tax on the public for the benefit of sectional interests. It would have been fairer and more honest if Mr Snowden imposed this in the Budget. The money could then have been distributed in accordance with the conditions the Government imposed. Instead they were handing over a power to extract from £30,000,000 to £40,000,000 a year from the people to the mine owners. It was a Bill for compulsory profiteering. Mr MacDonald, rising amid cheers to conclude the debate, observed that Mr Churchill had not lost his romantic imagination, but he personally was convinced that the situation which the Opposition tried to create was more political than related to the merits of the coal mining problem. The Prime Minister recalled that there had been failure after failure to extricate the coal industry from its difficulties. The House had to remember that before the trade could be reorganized there must be some new resources at its command. The late Secretary of Mines took the position that as long as the miner got 48/6 weekly they had no business to increase wages. It was stated that that was likely to increase the price of coal to the consumer by a penny; that was absurd. Until the House faced the question of the price of coal there would be no solution of the problem. If the scheme of nationalization was pushed ahead without delay, the problem of distribution to the individual consumer would be soluble. The effect of the Bill would be to hasten that day. Any amendments in committee designed to strengthen the Bill would be considered by the Government.

Excitement Over Division. Great excitement prevailed as the division was being taken because Mr Lloyd George's attack had shown that accommodation between the Government and the Liberals was impossible. The majority, therefore, must be narrow. The voting resulted: — For 281 Against 273 The Government’s vote included 275 Labourites, two Liberals (Mr Mander and Sir William Edge) and four Independents (Messrs Neil Mac Lean, Devlin, Harbison and Scrymgeour). The Labour Party’s strength Ls 289, the remaining 14 being accounted for as follows: Absent, paired in favour of the Bill, 10; tellers, 2; occupying official positions disentitling them to vote, 2. The minority of 273 consisted of about 230 Conservatives, more than 40 Liberals, and 1 Independent (Mr Graham Little). This is the highest vote the Conservatives have given in the present Parliament. The previous best was 222. Only 14 Conservatives were absent unaccounted for and 10 paired against the Bill. Five Liberals abstained from voting—Mr Walter Runciman, Sir Donald Mac Lean, Messrs Leif Jones, Percy Harris and Duncan Millar. The announcement of the result was greeted by loud Conservative shouts, “Resign!” MORAL DEFEAT SUFFERED. (Rec. 11.35 p.m.) London, December 20. The political correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that although the Government scraped through the coal division, it was the opinion in the lobbies that its proposals suffered a moral defeat. A beggarly majority of eight in support of the principal measure of the session demonstrated clearly that Parliament, distrusts the Government's handling of the coal problem.