BRITAIN’S IDLE HOSTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18492, 6 February 1930, Page 9

BRITAIN’S IDLE HOSTS.

Large Increase Reported. BELIEF SCHEMES AUTHORISED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, February 4. In the House of Commons, it was reported that the total unemployed on January 27th was 1,491,500, which is 18,098 more than the week before, and 57.422 more than a year before. The Unemployment Grants Committee approved of relief schemes totalling £1,808,000, employing approximately 5000. In all 1004 schemes were submitted costing £18; 000,000. Conflict with House of Lords. Cabinet to-day, after a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party agreed to a compromise in the conflict which has arisen between the House of Commons and the House of Lords over the Unemployment Insurance Bill. It is officially stated that at the meeting the Prime Minister set forth the situation created by the action of the House of Lords, in insisting upon their amendment, limiting the duration of the Bill to one year. He pointed out that there were three courses open, namely to accept the amendment, resist it, or amend it. The meeting decided to act upon the Government’s Suggestion %hat the House of Lords amendment should be amended to provide that the measure should continue in force until June 30th, 1933. The compromise implies the acceptance of the principle of limitation laid down by the House of Lords. The reasons for the limitation, as given in a paper issued to-day, are that the House of Lords consider that “before passing permanent legislation, it is desirable that an opportunity be afforded Parliament for further examining the questions relating to unemployment insurance.” The matter will come up for debate in the House of Commons late tonight. In the event of the modification of House of Lords amendment being passed, it is 'expected the modification will be accepted by the House of Lords. It appears that at the meeting of Cabinet with the Parliamentary Labour Party, the compromise proposal was strongly resisted by a section of the Party, but counsels of moderation prevailed. Prime Minister’s Protest. In the House of Commons at 11.30, Mr Macdonald, who was greeted with loud Labour cheers, said it was necessary to be perfectly plain. The amendment undoubtedly raised the question of privilege, and it was interference ( on the part of the House of Lords with Parliament's rights to determine how the money of the country should be spent. Hitherto when the House of Commons- deleted privileged amendments, the# House of Lords agreed, but to-night they had been informed by the House of Lords that as long as a Labour Government was in office it will sit and criticise Labour Bills as a sub-committee of the Tory Party. He admitted that the decision of the House of Lords put the Government In a fix, as it meant to do. Mr Macdonald added that if they dropped the Bill or put it into other Bills awaiting the operation of the Parliament Act, the finance of the unemployment funds would be bankrupt in ten or fourteen days. •