BRITISH POLITICS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19945, 1 November 1934, Page 9

BRITISH POLITICS

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT IN SESSION

British Official Wireless

(Received October 31, 5.5 p.m.)

RUGBY, October 30.

Parliament reassembled this afternoon, after the long summer vacation, to complete the work of the present session, which will probably end on November 16. The new session will be opened by the King in state on November 20.

Measures remaining to be disposed of before the present session ends include the Incitement to Disaffection Bill, the Betting and Lotteries Bill, and the Electricity Supply Bill, which are all of considerable domestic importance. There was a large attendance of members when the House of Commons assembled and a welcoming cheer was given from all sides of the House when the Leader of the Opposition, Mr George Lansbury, appeared for the first time since his prolonged illness.

The Indian Situation.

In response to a request for a statement on the Indian situation, Sir Samuel Hoare (Secretary of State) said it continued to be satisfactory and public interest was now centred mainly on the elections to the Legislative Assemly. The special measures adopted against the terrorists were being firmly maintained, and active public opinion was developing in Bengal against terrorists. Government action had also been taken against certain Communist organisations whose activities constituted a threat to law and order. On the North-west Frontier the situation was tranquil. The recent tariff legislation had improved the position of the British iron and steel industry, while a committee of the Indian Legislature had reported favourably on the results of the Ottawa trade agreement. European Pact. Mr R. A. Eden (Lord Privy Seal), said in reply to a question that both the German and the Polish Governments had indicated to the French Government, and it was understood also to the Soviet Government, certain difficulties which they saw to the conclusion of a mutual guarantee pact on the lines proposed last summer by the French and Soviet Governments, as amended at the suggestion of the British Government. They had not been informed what action, if any, the French and Soviet Governments proposed to take in response to these observations from Berlin and Warsaw.

Shipping Subsidies.

Mr Walter Runciman (president of the Board of Trade) informed the House that shipowners had worked out a scheme to meet the Government’s conditions for the grant of a subsidy to vessels carrying tramp cargoes under tramp conditions. The scheme had been submitted to the Government and was now under discussion. He understood from the Chamber of Shipping that steps were being taken to convene an international conference of shipowners to frame proposals tending to adjust the supply of tonnage in the world to the demand.