LIBERALS WILL NOT VOTE ON COAL BILL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19026, 22 March 1930, Page 1

LIBERALS WILL NOT VOTE ON COAL BILL

PARTY FREE TRADERS MEET AT LUNCHEON. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received March 22, 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 21. Much interest is displayed in the Press in the changed political situation resulting from the announcement that the Liberal Party in the House of Commons will abstain from voting on the Conservative amendment to omit the pricefixing provisions from the Government's Coal Mines Bill, which is being debated to-day. Importance is attached in some quarters to the fact that Mr Lloyd George, Mr W. Runciman, Sir Herbert Samuel and other prominent Liberals and Mr Philip Snowden, Mr W. A. Alexander, Lord Arnold and other members of the Government were present at what is called *‘a free trade” luncheon given to-day by Mrs Snowden at No. 7 Downing Street. Political writers are still speculating on the relations between the Liberals and Labour. A special writer in the ‘‘Daily Chronicle” insists that the talk of a compact is without foundation. In reference to Mrs Snowden’s luncheon at which Mr Lloyd George and other Free Traders were present, he says: ‘‘There is nothing new in the proposed joint action by the Liberals and Labour as the opponents of Protection. They have worked together in previous fiscal campaigns.”

The “Daily Express” regards yesterday’s proceedings in the House of Commons as showing that a Liberal-Labour pact is in operation. “The Manchester Guardian” says: “There was no arranged co-incidence and there was no diplomacy in the luncheon. It was merely an attempt to get the free traders of both parties together in view of the menace to frde trade, and there was no connection between it and the decision taken a few hours later by the Liberals on the Coal Bill.”

“The Manchester Guardian,” however, expresses the hope that such a connection may come.

When the House of Commons went into Committee on the Coal Mines Bill Mr Lloyd George explained why the Liberal Party would not take any further part in moving or supporting the amendment during the committee stage. He said he understood that the fate of the Naval Conference hung in the balance. Undoubtedly any action of the Liberals which would weaken the Government at this moment might have a very damaging effect on the Jiate of the Conference,