SAVED BY THREE VOTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18616, 11 July 1930, Page 9

SAVED BY THREE VOTES.

Labour Cabinet’s Close Call. LIBERALS’ VOTES SPLIT. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received July 10, 7.0 p.m.) LONDON, July 9. In the House of Commons, in the Committee stage of the Finance Bill, the Government was only saved from defeat by three votes. The amendment, moved by Dr. E. L. Burgin (Liberal), was supported by the Conservatives, permitting exemption of income tax of money spent on plant and machinery. The amendment was defeated by 278 votes to 275. The Government was saved by four Liberals voting with them. Thirteen Liberals did not vote. About twenty-five, headed by Mr LloydGeorge. voted with the Conservatives, against the Government. Mr Snowden said the proposal meant a subsidy to every trade and profession. Every new counter put in a bank, or new vat in every brewery would escape taxation at the expense of the taxpayer. It would cost £30,000,000 a year, without reducing unemployment by a single person. The greater part of this gift would go to prosperous industries, and leave Lazurus still begging at the gate. Mr Lloyd-George said he did not desire to defeat the Government. He was of opinion that the concession would cost only £6,000,000 to £7,000,000, yet it would accelerate orders and help rationalisation. Mr Churchill said that this Liberal proposal was freer from objection than others.

When the division was taken the House was seething with excitement. The result was announced amid great Ministerial cheering, with a universal gasp of relief and cries of “Resign” and counter cheers. Some of the Liberals stated after the division that they had not realised that the Government had been in serious danger, or they would have acted differently. There was a suggestion that the division would lead to trouble in the Liberal Party. The effect in Government quarters was to provoke severe criticism of Mr Lloyd-George. and the remark that a conspiracy to kill the Government had failed. Coal Bill Held Up. After the Finance Bill, the House of Commons considered the House of Lords amendment to the Coal Mines Bill. After Mr Bevan and other miners' representatives had declared against the spread over of hours, the Government’s motion expressing disagreement with the House of Lords amendment, on the subject, was carried by 296 votes to 238.