Malcontents Won Over

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 840, 7 December 1929, Page 11

Malcontents Won Over

CRISIS IN LABOUR PARTY Unemployment Pay Dispute SNOWDEN TALKS TO BACK-BENCHERS United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Received 11 a.m. LONDON, Friday. AT a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Philip Snowden, had pointed out the adverse exchequer if the Labour malcontents’ amendments, liberalising unemployment insurance, were passed, agreed not to press the amendments, but to cooperate to the fullest extent in passing the Bill before Christmas.

The House of Commons had debated last evening in Committee the Unemployment Insurance Bill. After a heated debate in connection with the condition regarding persons “genuinely seeking work,” the Government was faced with an open revolt by its back-bench members, including the representatives of the big trade unions, which would certainly have entailed a defeat. The Minister of Labour, Miss Margaret Bondfield, hurriedly retired with the Attorney-General, Sir W. A. Jowitt. and when she returned announced that she would withdraw the whole sub-clause for redrafting.

The Labour members argued that the sub-section opened the door to administrative persecution. Sir William Jowitt replied that they must encourage the spirit of self help. They could not legislate on the lines that unemployed persons need only sit at home and smoke their pipes until work was found. Sir William Jowitt admitted that there was difficulty in drafting what was required. The debate last evening caused the Prime Minister, Mr. MacDonald, some anixous moments. The rank and file seemed determined to defeat the Ministers unless they surrendered.