GOVERNMENT DEFEAT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16736, 18 May 1922, Page 4

GOVERNMENT DEFEAT.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON. May 16, The unexpected defeat of the Government caused excitement in the lobbies and political clubs. The resignation of the President of the Boari of Education. Mr H. A. L. Fisher, is expected. The resignation of the Government ri unlikely though it is possible. as the defeat has arisen from the effect to the report of the Gedde* Committee. During the debate on thi second reading of the teachers’ Superannuation Bill, the National Union of Teachers which has considerable voting power in the House of Commons, proved unexpectedly active. There was 50 much lobbying that the Government, scenting danger, issued a three-line whip for the debate which ordinarily would not attract fifty members. The Bill proposed that teachers should contribute* five per <- v ent of their sala~ies towards the pension, thus saving £‘2.300.000 annually. Mr Fisher argued on the necessity for economy. H> showed that salaries for teachers had increased 1-50 per cent in five years and that the pension rate had been trebled. Several Labour members and other opponents then claimed that a bargaui had been made with the teachers and any reduction was n breach of the honour of tire House of Commons which had agreed to the bargain. Mr Fisher and Mr Chamberlain denied that any bargain had been made whr»j the teachers’ salaries were fixed h\* the committee, presided over by Lord Burnham. Excitement increased when Lord Robert Cecil moved the adjournment of the debate. Mr Chamberlain refused to accept the motion. It was now evident that the opposition to the Government proposal had been gathering strength and that the “ die-hards,*’ Coalition Liberals and a number of Conservatives would be allied with the Labour members on the question of adjournment. A sensation occurred when Sir W. Joynson-Hicks (Co.-U.) and Major E Gray (Co.-U.) (Conservatives), tellers, returned from the lobby and took up their position on the right of the table with the Government whips on their left. There rose a mighty cheer from the Opposition and loud shouts of “ Resign,” when Sir YV. Joynsou- ; Hicks read the figures, showing the Government to be in a minority cf three. Mr Chamberlain, who was greeted with cries of “ Get out your election addressee,’’ immediately moved tho ad* journment of the House. Cabinet will hold a meeting tomorrow to decide what action the Government will take. The general impression is that the Government blundered in allowing the division to he taken two hours before the tims mentioned in their three-line whip. Jc ! is also considered that Mr Fisher L unpopular with the Conservatives and is an unconvincing debater. Nevertheless there are shrewd politicians who think that Mr Chaimberlain put - posely risked defeat as he can now \fairlv claim that the Government was doing its best to economise hut a com j bination of the opposition, obedient co the pressure of the teachers’ votes, thwarted its efforts. Moreover. Yli Lloyd Gcor may take the doubL event, the m in the House of Commons and ; -back at Genoa, owing to America refusal to attend the Hague. a=; tlm occasion for retirement and a search for the rest he badly needs. The mention of the three-line whip in the above message refers to the written notice sent to members of the ]..ir?\. the notice being underscored with a number of lines representing j degrees of urgency.

RESIGNATION UNLIKELY.