Conservatives In House Of Commons Move Censure Vote

Wanganui Chronicle, 16 September 1948, Page 5

Conservatives In House Of Commons Move Censure Vote

(N.Z.P. A.—Rauttr—Copyright. > London, Sept. 14. The Conservatives have tabled an' amendment to His Majesty's speech from the Throne virtually amounting to a vote of censure of the Government. It declares that “while national difficulties are multiplying at home and abroad, the Government, in preoccupation with partisan manoeuvres, is unable to submit any measures for their solution.” The Communist M.’sP., Messrs Gallacher and Piratin, submitted an amendment calling for increased wages and reduced prices, the withdrawal of troops from Malaya, and speeding up of demobilisation, and the promotion of trade. “The suggestion that the Government has introduced the Parliamentary Bill to safeguard certain legislation which possibly has not yet seen the light of day is moonshine," said Mr. Herbert Morrison in the House of Commons. He added that the Government considered the 1911 Act no longer adequate for modern conditions. It was preposterous to advance the superior claims of the House of Lords over the House of Commons as being peculiarly the judge of popular and general public opinion. “The Commons is much better fitted to be the judge of what the public wants and what it does not, than the Lords could possibly be,” Mr. Morrison said. The Government hoped there would be no difficulty with the Lords on the rest of the legislative programme. “TRAGIC FRIVOLITY.” Colonel O. Stanley said the Government seemed to regard the Lords’ reform as the most important task upon which Parliament could concentrate. There was nothing in the conduct of the Lords' which justified the reform. The Opposition would oppose the measure, using all the Parliamentary opportunities available, and in doing so would demonstrate the tragic frivolity of the Government, which in the midst of gathering dangers at home and abroad was content to play out to the end this petty Party pantomime. Lord Shepherd, moving an address of thanks in the House of Lords, said it was entirely wrong to believe it the Lords’ lost its suspensary power the Commons could do as it wished. Lord Kershaw, seconding the motion, appealed to the Lords to explore the possibility of a settlement in view of the world and domestic situation. The Leader of the Opposition, Lord Salisbury, said the session was purely a political manoeuvre to appease LeftWing Labourites. He intended to table a vote on foreign affairs so that the whole field could be reviewed.

Lord Addison, replying, said the session was not a political manoeuvre, but a political necessity. The Lords’ would receive the Parliamentary Bill from the House of Commons on September 22 and would debate foreign iffairs on September 24.