DEFEAT THREATENED

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1929, Page 9

DEFEAT THREATENED

BACK BENCHERS ANGRY

LABOUR CABINET SHAKEN

MINISTER GIVES WAY

By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright. Rec. 7.40 p.m. London, Dec. 6. The House of Commons devoted the evening to the committee stage of the Unemployment Insurance Bill. After a heated debate in connection with the “genuinely seeking work” condition the Government was faced with open revolt by its back benchers, including representatives of the big trade unions, which would have certainly entailed defeat. Miss Bondfield, Minister in charge of the Bill, hurriedly retired with the At-torney-General. When she returned she announced that she was withdrawing the whole sub-clause for re-drafting. Labour members argued that the subsection opened the door to administrative persecution. Sir William Jowitt, Attorney-General, replied the House must encourage the spirit of self-help. It could not legislate on the lines that those unemployed need only sit at home and smoke until work was found. He admitted that there was difficulty in granting what was required. - - Mr. Philip Snowden, Chancellor of the Exchequer, by special request meets the recalcitrants to-day, when he will be faced with demands not only from the Clydesiders but from the trade union representatives, who constitute about 75 per cent, of the strength of the Labour Party in the House of Commons. The trade union section demands that the waiting period before the benefit operates should be three instead of six days. It ig estimated that this would cost four millions a year. The debate caused Mr. MacDonald anxious moments. The rank and file seemed determined to defeat the Ministers unless ! they surrendered.