HOME POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1919, Page 5

HOME POLITICS.

A SIGNIFICANT DIVISION,

A GOVERNMENT DEFEAT,

i 9VER ALIENS BILL. j By Telegraph,—Press Assn.—Copyrf.u.. j Received Oct. ?.n, 5.5 p.m. October 24. A curious situation has arisen in the House of Commons as a result of the Government's defeat by ISS votes to 113 on an amendment to the Aliens Bill. The amendment related to a clause providing that no alien should hold a pilotage certificate. Mr Shortt pointed out that such a j *!ausc would conflict, with the Pilotage j Act, 1913, and detrimentally affect, i French pilots, and he proposed an j amendment to meet the difficulty. The House rejected the amendment, j whereupon Mr Bonar Law immediately j moved the adjournment till Monday, I though he ridiculed the ide» that the Government was going to xcstjjß. The debate showed that the majority of members of the House of .Commons desired more drastic measures against aliens than the Government is embodying in the Bill. The adjournment will • the Gpvernn>ent to reconsider the whole problem.—Auß.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE HOUSE ASSERTING ITSELF. ATTITUDE OF LABOR. Received Oct. 26, 11.5 p.m. London, October 2-1. Although it is admitted on all hands |,that the Government's defeat will not precipitate a crisis the newspapers ! claim that it is a significant indication of the determination of the House of | Commons to reassert its independence ! and restore its control over the executive. The revolt was headed by over a.\hundred Coalition Unionists, who demand the strengthening of the restrictions upon aliens, and the carrying but of election pledges, too many of which have been neglected. The Government survived two bad divisions on Wednesday on the same bill, when the support of fifty-three Labor members and Independent Libj erals practically saved them. Labor, I however, refused to let yesterday's opportunity slip and voted against the Government, while Sir Donald Mac Lean and other "wee frees" did not vote,— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FINANCIAL SITUATION. HOUSE OF LORDS DISCUSSION. NO SUGGESTION OF-BANKRUPTCY. Received Oct. 2G, 5.5 p.m, London, October 24. The House of Lords discussed the I financial situation. Lord Buckmaster favored a large increase in the income tax instead of'capital levy, or a levy on war profits, though all three were possible remedies, especially the tax on war profits. This would restore to the community money which should never have betn lost. Lord Milner said there was nothing in the position to justify the talk of bankruptcy. The British financial situation, was less serious than in any country, except, perhaps;, the United States and Japan. The panic which certain newspapers were fomenting was due to an unjustifiable belief that the Governmentdoes not realise the gravity of the situatioti. It was unwise to adopt illconsidered measures. The wolf isn't at the door. A capital levy might do irreparable mischief to the recovery of trade. We certainly ought not to take more income tax from incomes under £ISOO. People with small fixed incomes suffered most as the result of the war. We ought to stop the waste involved in the unscientific use of raw materials, and should not bewail the reduced coal output when it might, double the value by it better u?v, theerof. The country ought to develop*, electricity, wireless communication and new forais of transport. There was also a mine of wealth in some of tho undeveloped colonies and protectorate There was a danger of getting into the habit of regarding ourselves as a poor country. Lord Miliiur added that he agreed it was only fain- that people who became enormously rricli as a result of the war should make a. special contribution to relieve the community's burden. He could not sav whether the execution of that principle would produce sucn confusion as to threaten us, and so many individual acts of injustice as to compel its abandonment, but the project deserved careful studv and consideration. —Aus.-N.Z. Cablet Assn. The debate wast-adjourned—Aus.-N.Z. . Cable Assn.