REDDEST M.P. CARRIES BUNDLES OF PETITIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17781, 26 February 1926, Page 10

REDDEST M.P. CARRIES BUNDLES OF PETITIONS.

HOUSE OF COMMONS LAUGHS AT SPECTACLE. By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright. Reuter’s Telegrams. LONDON, February 24. The House of Commons laughed at the spectacle of Mr Saklatvala, the Communist member for Battersea, carrying six heavy bundles, two of which were slung from his neck, to the Clerk’s table. lie explained that they were the signatures of 300.000 citizens, including 100 members of the House of Commons—men and women of all parties—drawing the attention of the House to the miners and members of the Communist Party imprisoned, praying that the House ask his Majesty to use his prerogative to release them. GOVERNMENT AND LEAGUE. Mr A. Ponsonby (Lab.) asked whether Sir A. Chamberlain was able to inform the House of the attitude he had been instructed to adopt at the forthcoming meeting of the Council of the League of Nations on the subject of further increase in the permanent membership of the Council beyond the admission of Germany. Sir A. Chamberlain replied that the Government had not yet decided on its course of action. He denied that the extraordinary session of the Council of the League had been called to deal exclusively with the question of the admission of Germany.

SINGAPORE BASE. Major L. Hore-Belisha (Lib.) asked whether in view of the economies made in the strength of the Fleet it is still proposed to continue the expenditure on the Singapore base. Mr W. C. Bridgeman replied affirmatively. Mr Baldwin said that the suggestion that an Imperial Conference should not be confined to representatives of parties temporarily in office, which his predecessor had submitted to the dominions’ Prime Ministers, had not been supported. He himself had not considered it practicable. ADMISSION OF GERMANY. Asked if the extensions of membership of the Council of the League beyond Germany’s admission had been discussed at Locarno, Sir A. Chamberlain replied in the negative. He said the Powers represented at Locarno, who were members of the Council, had already expressed their willingness to support the selection of Germany on a permanent seat, but no question had been raised in regard to the claims of the other He had never heard it suggested thefi or earlier that an agreement to support Germany implied an agreement to oppose every other change.