BRITISH AFFAIRS

Southland Times, Issue 21420, 15 June 1931, Page 7

BRITISH AFFAIRS

POLITICAL POSITION GOVERNMENT AND LIBERALS CONFERENCE BETWEEN LEADERS (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, June 12. The leaders of the Liberal and Labour Parties met to explore the situation which has arisen over the Liberal Party’s amendment of an important clause in the land taxation proposals of the Government’s Finance Bill. The deliberations will probably be continued during the week-end. The newspapers express the belief that accommodation is likely to be found and the crisis anticipated by Mr Lloyd George’s Edinburgh speech may be, avoided. In to-day’s conversations the Prime Minister was accompanied by Mr Snowden, who is in charge of the Finance Bill, and Mr Lloyd George and the Rt. Hon. Sir H. Samuel attended on behalf of the Liberals. A full meeting of the Liberal Party will be held on Monday to finally decide the action to be taken on the amendment, which has been tabled for consideration in the House of Commons on Tuesday. COAL MINE INDUSTRY CONFERENCE REGARDING HOURS AND WAGES. Rugby, June 12. It was reported to a special meeting of the Miners’ Federation that consultations with the owners on the position likely to arise next month on the expiration of the present Act regulating working hours had not yet led to definite proposals being made by the Mining Association concerning the adjustment of hours and the protection of wages on a national basis. Joint consultations will be resumed next Thursday and the executive has adjourned till the 22nd to receive the report. A delegate conference of the Miners’ Federation, called to determine the policy in connection with the hours and’wages position has been fixed for the 23rd.

This afternoon a meeting was held between the Prime Minister and the Coal Committee of the Cabinet. STERILIZATION OF UNFIT WOMEN’S GUILD DEMAND. London, June 12. Twelve thousand delegates to the annual conference of the Women’s Co operative Guild almost unanimously agreed to demand legislation to ensure the compulsory sterilization of the unfit. Mrs Enever, of Leytonstone said: “We must not be squeamish about the matter. Sterilization is already much practised in the upper classes and doctors are prepared to take the consequences. The nation’s welfare must come before religious objections.” SHIPPING LOSSES ATLANTIC SERVICES REDUCED. (Rec. 11.45 p.m.) London, June 14. Owing to the serious depression, some of the largest shipping companies operating the North Atlantic, including the Cunard and White Star have cancelled nearly forty sailings. Not a single one of the sixteen giant liners in the transatlantic trade showed a profit in 1930 while the costs are so large that many round trips showed a loss of £20,000 each.