GOVERNMENT DEFEAT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16737, 19 May 1922, Page 5

GOVERNMENT DEFEAT.

A SERIOUS VOTE. By Telesrrsoh—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, May 17. Mr Chamberlain, replying to a question, said the Government could not but consider last night’s vote as serious, in that it was a refusal of the House to support them in steps thought necessary to secure a reduction in £>ublie expenditure and an alleviation of the public burden. "Whatever might be said about the exact significance of the vote, the decision of the House had been given upon a dilatory motion upon which it was not in order to argue the merits of the case. In these circumstances the Government had decided to appoint a select committee, consisting of not more than nine members. to report whether, in fixing the present scale of salaries, an undertaking had been given or implied that the provisions of the Teachers Superannuation Act would not be altered while these salaries remained in force. To meet the additional burden in consequence of the vote of approximately £200,000 a month, the Government would immediately bring down a supplementary estimate to cover the charge during the first quarter of the year. Replying to further questions, Mr Chamberlain said he well knew when he went to a division that the Government stood in grave dntiger of being beaten, but he considered it was his duty to put the responsibility on the House. The Government considered that the supplementarv estimate should be taken at the earliest possible moment, perhaps next week. Mr J. M. Ken worthy : And go to the country on it? Mr. Chamberlain : Yes, if necessary. The reference to a dilatory motion in the above cable alludes to the fact that • the actual motion was one by Lord | Robert- Cecil that- the debate on the ; matter he adjourned. This was the I motion on which the Government met with deffftt. Referring to the undertaking claimed to have been made, the Association of Assistant Masters, in a statement., claimed that the Government had stated, through Mr Fisher, that it would keep faith with the teachers in the matter of the Burnham scales of payment. But when the teachers accepted these scales they did so with I a full appreciation of their effect on | the superannuation question. Hence i they were willing to accept lower sal- j aries than would otherwise have been j the case. Thus, to make pensions con- < tributorv would he an attack, dis- ' guised but very real, on the Burnham \ scale.