BRITISH POLITICS

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15894, 19 January 1924, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

Mr Neville Chamberlain stated that Ib.e Cabinet Committee recommended eighteen months ago the sale of the Government's shares in the AngloPersian Oil Company, but by 17 to 12 Cabinet rejected the recommendation. A similar proposal was recently submitted on behalf of various oil interests. The Government had intended appointing another Cabinet Committee to consider the matter of mails. WINSTON'S CHURCHILL'S PROTEST (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, January 18. \ Mr Churchill is evidently among the Liberals who do not relish the idea or supporting Labour, and has published a letter in which he declares the enthronement of a Socialist Government in office to be a serious national misfortune, comparable with a defeat in war. lie contends that the exhortation to give a chance to Labour will only really mean giving a fair chance to faction and manoeuvre, and he paints a dark picture of the result of a Socialist minority Government, He suggests that after Mr Clynes' ameridmtnt to the Address is carried the House should further record its repudiation of Socialism' and its distrust, or a party which advocates a capital levy and nationalisation.

NO-CONFIDENCE NOTICE. ADDRESS BY MR CLYMES. ROYALTY PRESENT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, January IS. Tile Prince of Wales aafl the Duke of York entered the peers' gallery in Die Douse of Commons as Hon. .T. R. dynes was speaking on the Labour motion of no-confidence. The momentous debate opened quitely. There were macy vacant seats owing to the fact that a division 'is arranged for Monday night. Mr dynes' indictment of the Government's foreign policy did not raise a single Labour cheer. The first sign of life was when Mr Cl>r.es aroused general cheers by a reference to the dominions. He said Mr Macdonald j cn Tuesday gave an assurance tlia't j the pledges, so far as they have been j made, would be carried out, and the House be given full opportunity ofj

deciding the important issue raised. Mr Giynes said his own view was that the trade showed substantial opportunities and prospects of improvement. He emphasised the necessity ol net neglecting the European markets, but when tie had done his best with neighbours he agreed that in some sense a special duty remained in relation tc- the dominions. The question was licw far we could stimulate dominions’ trade without Increasing taxation and dis.turbing the foundations of the fiscal system. We must inquire into alternatives. Transport inprovemenw constituted one line of policy, and perhaps substantial encouragement to dominion fellow-workers might be found in revealing by inquiry or otherwise the facts concerning the destination of the enormous difference between what tiie dominion producer cf food got for his labour and what the consumer here paid for it. Mr dynes added that such avenues for exploration should deceive purely non-partisan attention. All the conferences hitherto had been a close Government preserve, ignoring the growing interest of Labour. If we were to lift dominion considerations to a non-party lcvc.l there must be l'ar more conferences on non-party tines. The question of emigration was involved, and the consequences of u voluntary transference of population must be seriously considered. Anything 'of the sort must be carried out on agreed terms. He was satisfied that such terms would benefit Labour, both here and in the dominions. The terms must include adequate training and technical and jgcnc-rsd education for the how duties, satisfactory remuneration and security of employment before the worker would agree to emigrate. Mr Giynes concluded by disclaiming any desire on the part of Labour io foster class strife. Asquithian Advice. Mr Asquith aroused Opposition enthusiasm by advising his supporters to vole in favour of the motion to eject a Government that had been guilty of vacillation and impotence at Homo and abroad. He had not known on Administration which had done more actual mischief. There had recently been an epidemic of political hysteria. He had been cajoled, wheedled, almost caressed, threatened, browbeaten, and all but blackmailed, to be a saviour of society, but be declined to believe that the sun was going to set on the prosperity of Britain on the eve of Mr MacDonald coming into office. Translated into plain prose, the “saving of society” meant that the Liberals and Conservatives were combining to keep Labour out. There could be no question of coalition or fusion of the Liberal and Labour parties, because it was impossible to bridge the differences on the fundamental issues of national policy, brt on many social and national questions there was room for the co-operation not on! of Liberals and Labourites, but many Conservatives. Other Criticism. Mr Frank Hodges, in a maiden speech, chiefly dealt in abstract form j with Labour’s political aspirations. He referred deprecatingly to the Liberals’ sympathetic attitude to the Labour Party, recalling in this conncclion the recent Liberal associations with 'Labour. He declared that- scientific organisation of industry was the crying political need. Mr J. Cl. Gould (Conservative) severely criticised the Government’s advisers, and indicted some C.onser- | vatives for supporting the amendment. lls assured Mr Baldwin that tic would not be silent when the matter of the I holding of the election was thrashed | out elsewhere.

Empire Development and migration

Sir Philip Lloyd Graeme expressed delight with Mr Clynes' speech about Empire development and immigration. The Imperial Conference had made it perfectly clear that whatever scheme for financial co-operation was offered to the Dominions, it might be that the latter could not act thereon unless they saw a way for markets in Britain. Mr Lloyd Graeme asked what would be the effect o[ rejecting the preference proposed at the Conference on the far greater preference at present given us hv the Dominions. He pointed out that in 1022 the value of the rebates of duty by the Dominions to Britain exceeded Hi. 230,000. ' "General Smuts and Mr Bruce warned us in most proper natural terms of the commercial advances made by oilier Governments, which they had hitherto refused." added Sir P. Graeme, who commended the Conference proposals on the double ground of good business and common sentiment. The House adjourned. A Further Amendment. Mr Cooper Rawson gave notice of an'amendment to the Labour no-con-fklence one The amendment is that before, any Ministry ' founded upon principles of Socialism is formed a general election on the issue of Socialism should be held. General Seely suggested a conference of the leaders of parties, with a high, judicial authority, to consider the political situation. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. PRELIMINARIES AT SINGAPORE. ANGLO-PERSIAN OIL CO. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received Jan. 19. 12.50 p.m. LONDON, January 18. In the House of Commons. Colonel 1,. G. M. S. Amcry stated that there Is nc reasonable doubt that the Hooding or the submarine L 24 and the death or the crew immediately followed the collision. Regarding Singapore, he explained that preliminary work hadi been done.