NEARING THE DECISION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 19 January 1924, Page 9

NEARING THE DECISION.

Labour’s Challenge Issued. MR ASQUITH’S APPEAL TO LIBERALS. By Oa-ble—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 7.5 U p.m., January 18.) LONDON, January 17. In the House of Commons, in reply to a question, relative to the Singapore base, Colonel Amery said preliminary work had begun, but tli9 actual work so far was not great, but liabilities of about £150,000 had been incurred. The land had been provided free of cost by the generosity of the colony. It was proposed to carry out the principal works by contract. In reply to a question as to whether anything had been done, in view of the sale of the Government holding of the Anglo-Persian oil corporation shares, Mr Neville Chamberlain said that eighteen months ago a proposal to sell shares was rejected on recommendation of a Cabinet Committee. Recently, further proposals by various oil interests bad been submitted, but the Government had not had time to reach a final decision. It intended to refer the matter to a Cabinet Committee.

Labour’s Challenge. In the House of Commons, Mr J. R. Clynes moved- Labour’s no-confidenco motion in the following terms: “It is our duty respectfully to submit to Your Majesty that His Majesty’s present 'Advisers have not the confidence of this House.” Mr Asquith advised all Liberals to support it. A further separate Labourite amendment has been put dow r n, the Scottish Labourites demanding Scottish Home Rule. The amendment is regarded in tho nature of a manifesto since all Scottish Labourites favour Home Rule although the Party as a whole has not adopted the policy. Woman’s Unique Distinction. Among many maiden speeches, thy greatest interest was evidenced in Miss Susan Lawrence’s, the first Labour woman heard in the British Parliament, which deeply impressed all. She u slight, grey haired and spectacled, and presented an earnest figure as she pleaded the cause of necessitous school children. She contended that the wholesale cutting down of expenditure on children’s meals was illegal, and demanded the opinion of the law officers She argued that the Board of Education was reactionary in other matters. Where the Liberals Stand. Earl Beauchamp, speaking at the National Liberal Club, said the Baldwin Government placed themselves in such a position that the Liberals had no option but to vote no-confidence, which would have the effect of putting Labour into office. Referring to Mr Bruce’s speeches, Earl Beauchamp said they sounded like the efforts of an agent of the Tariff Reform League. Mr Bruce, more than anyone else was the indirect cause of the general election.

MR CHURCHILL’S DISGUST. " \ rejoining unionists to fight SOCIALISM. QV CABLE —PRICKS A SSN.—COPYRIGH’! LONDON, January 17. It is understood that Mr Churchill proposes to announce rejoining tlie Unionists to fight Socialism, denouncing Mr Asquith and Mr Lloyd George for the way they treated him over the election. intervention of dominion premiers. YORKSHIRE PAPER’S COMMENT B y Oable—Press Association —Cfopyrlglu. (Received 12.5 a.m., January 19.) LONDON, January 17. The “Yorkshire Observer” in an editorial says: The Baldwin Government went to the country on the protection issue of which the preference scheme was momentarily the principal item. Several Dominion Premiers constituted themselves, in effect, electioneering agents for the Government. One or two Premiers, not content with that action, are still constituting themselves Parliamentary agents in the hope of influencing the votes of the House of Commons. So far most of us have been content to wonder whether active intervention by British politicians m Dominion elections and Parliamentary debates to the prejudice of one party or the other, would be tolerated m the same good nature which we, in the stupidity and ignorance Mr Brace ascribed to our people, have consistently displayed.