LABOUR SAVED

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1924, Page 5

LABOUR SAVED

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. CONSERVATIVE ATTACK. LIBERALS AVERT DEFEAT. UNEMPLOYMENT POLICY. By Telegraph—Pres* Assn.—Copyright. London, May 29. The Conservative motion in the House of Commons, attacking the Labour Government’s unemployment policv, ’was defeated by 300 votes to 852. ' The Prime Minister (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald) took charge of the debate on unemployment when Mr. Hicks reintroduced hi# motion. It has been a day of intense political excitement, with talk of a dissolution. The Ministerialists were urgently whipped up for the division. Sir Robert Horne (Conservative) opened the debate, and declared that the patience of the country was exhausted. The Government’s record was one of hypocrisy and failure. Mr. MacDonald’s gaze was so fixed on the foreign horizon that he stumbled over his own door-mat. Mr. Mae Donald, who received an ovation from his followers, regretted Sir Robert Horne’s tub-thumping. He agreed that the opinion of the country was changing, but the change was against the Opposition and in favour of Labour. He concluded that Mr. Hicks’ motion was one of censure and, if passed, he assured the Opposition he would do hie best to meet them on the platforms of the country. (Prolonged Ministerial cheers.) At the conclusion of Mr. MacDonald’s speech the Liberals trooped out of the House to hold a party meeting to determine what their attitude should be ■on the vote. Consequently exceptional interest attached to the speech of Mr. Asquith, delivered a little later. He indicated at an early stage that the Liberals ware prepared to give the Government a little more time to turn round. LIBERALS RIDICULED. DEFEAT ONLY POSTPONED. LLOYD GEORGE’S ADVICE UNHEEDED. Received May 30, 5.5 p.m. London. May 30. Interest in the speeches was eclipsed by the happenings outside tne chamber, which were determining the Liberal attitude.

Sir Robert Horne (Conservative) was aware of the first abortive meeting, and made a great play of the Liberal difficulties. He aroused loud Conservative laughter by describing the Liberals as patient oxen treading out the Socialist corn, whose day of slaughter was not averted, but only postponed. He pictured the Liberal leaders bemoaning their desiccated followers, and murmuring: “Alas, my poor brothers!”

Sir Robert Horne was subject to a constant fire of interruptions, necessitating the chairman appealing for a fair hearing. The Prime Minister (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald) chose to direct the Labour defence himself, instead of leaving the task to Mr. T. Sha< (Minister for Labour), who made a rather poor showing last week. The Premier’s outstanding point was his defiant claim that the Dpposition was afraid to face an immediate election. The second Liberal meeting lasted an hour. All present were pledged to secrecy, but later it was known that the majority was against Mr. Lloyd George’s desire to administer a rebuff to the Government. Mr. H. H. Asquith’s phraae: “I favour fair play.” revealed the Liberal decision, which wa« greeted with loud Labour cheers, coupled with ironical cheers from the Conservatives. Mr. Asquith was nettled and asked if the cheers were intended to suggest that, because the Liberals were prepared to give the Government time, they were obsequious minions of Labour. A voice: “Patient oxen.”

Mr. Lloyd George significantly did not return to the House after the second meeting to hear Mr. Asquith’s speech. The Labourites showed no satisfaction at Mr. Asquith’s decision, which they regard as equivalent to a claim that the Liberals have left them in office on probation, with a warning to mend their ways. Mr. F. E. Guest intimated he was toot able to follow Mr. Asquith’s guidance, and voted against the Government. A hundred Liberals sunnorted the Government; forty, including Mr. Lloyd George, did not vote; and eight voted with the Opposition. Two of the Labour members came to the House from sick beds.

“BARE CUPBOARDS.” LAST GOVERNMENT’S LEGACY. COMPLAINT BY PRIME MINISTER. Received May 30. 11.25 p.m. London, Mav 29. In the House of Commons, during the unemnlovment dehate, the Premier ’(Mr. Ramsar MacDonald) declared that the last Government had left present one with bare cupboards. Unemployment rchemes were inextricably involved with the problem nf local rating and Imperial taxation. He outthe Government’s proposed national schemes to meet the position, including large arterial roads and afforestation. the latter being bound nn with the land settlement scheme. He was of the opinion that the Government ought to plant 30,000 acres annuallv. Mr. Stanley Baldwin (Leader of the Conservatives) said the Government’s sug<rested scheme® would not prove a positive remedy for unemployment, regarding which the Labourites were as far off as when they assumed office. The debate on the main estimate was adjourned sine die.