BRITISH POLITICS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 127, 21 July 1911, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE INSURANCE BILL. London, July 20. Tho Board of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows resolved that Mr LloydGeorgo’s refusal not to allow sick pay for tho first three days of an illness was most detrimental to friendly societies, and it would possibly relinquish a desire to become an approved society under tho Bill. Mr LloydGeorge’s refusal is duo to a desire to prevent malingering. In the Insurance Bill debate Mr Lloyd-George was greatly harassed by critics on the Liberal and Labour benches, asking for more concessions. Mr Lee-Smith’s amendment aroused excited interest. Its aim was to relievo the contributor falling in arrears through unemployment from liability to make good his arrears of contributions, which tho employee would have paid had ho been working. Mr LeeSmith predicted that if contributors were compelled to pay arrears before reaping the benefits odium might be cast on tho Bill and the scheme be wrecked. He contended that the State should grant £150,000. Mr Lloyd-George said tho State was unable to bear this additional burden. Tho proposal was impracticable, and would encourage tho thriftless. Mr Shirwell declared the Chancellor would deprive the most helpless of their due unless the amendment wore accepted, and the poor and destitute would be sadly disappointed. Messrs Cripps, W. Pcel-Harwood and Rountree pressed Mr LloydGeorge, who then proposed to compromise, namely, that friendly societies should be.given the right to pay contributions which in ordinary cases were paid by employers. Mr Ramsay McDonald strenuously opposed this, declaring the State ought to come to the unemployed contributors’ assistance. Mr Lloyd-George refused to yield, and warned Liberals that if tho amendment were carried it might mean not merely the defeat of tho Bill, but tho defeat of the Government, The amendment was negatived by 163 to 116 votes. Afterwards, Mr Lloyd-George’s compromise was carried by 210 to 77. (Received 21, 9.25 a.m.) London, July 20. An all-night sitting on the National Insurance Bill took place over clause 11, the Labour members demanding sick pay for workmen in addition to accident compensation. Mr Lloyd-George, in an impassioned speech, secured its rejection by 99 to 23. Received 21, 9.25 a.m.) London, July. 20. During the debate in tho House of Lords on the Land Transfer Bill, Earl Loreburn said that apart from stamps and Government charges £4,000,000 wore spent annually in solicitors’ fees for proving titles. Tho Bill of laud registry was similar to that in force in Australia and Now Zealand. Lords Salisbury agreed that tho present state of the law was a scandal. THE PARLIAMENT BILL. (Received 21, 9.25 a.m.) London, July 20. Tho House of Lords was crowded with many distinguished visitors, including Indian potentates, when Lord Morley moved tho third reading o p the Parliament Bill. Ho said that though it was so changed that it was no longer the Government Bill, its rejection would mean a tremendous dislocation of Parliamentary business, and groat exasperation of political opinion. The Government had a right/ to expect tho Lords to follow tho precedent of the Budget and pass the Bill, which was approved at the general election. (Rectived 21, 8.5 a.m.) London, July 20. The Duke of Bedford, in a speech at Woborr, said if the Parliament Bid relumed the Lords in their origami form. independent Unionist Beers would not surrender their trust. If th»y surrendered, the Unionists in the ci vi.tiy vould sar the House >1 Lords was useless. I n •,!>»• IT i;.-« of Con: i.on =. »r )<I n I• • • l.ilo if.reduced the Pa;e Mom Bill i U..( five; 1 21, 8.5 a.m , Washington. iin» ?(: Interest is waning in the reciprocity debate in the Senate. There are poor attendances.