BRITAIN'S UNEMPLOYED.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 1600, 31 May 1924, Page 7

BRITAIN'S UNEMPLOYED.

CENSURE MOTION BEATEN. LIBERALS SUPPORT LABOUR. GIVING TIME TO TURN ROUND. (Australian and N.Z. Gallic Assn.) LONDON, May 29. In the House of Commons Mr Ramsay MacDonald look charge of Ihe debate on unemployment. wliuii Sir \V. Joynson J licks reintroduced I his motion lo reduce the salary of the .Minister of Labour by £ 100 as an indication of the House's dissatisfaction of the Government unemployment policy. It had been a day of intense political excitement, with talk of a ♦dissolution. Ministcrialsls were argenlly whppcd up for the division. Sir li. Home, opened the debate and declared that the country's patience was exhausted. The Government's record was one of hypocrisy and dismal failure. Mr MacDonald's gaze was so fixed on the foreign horizon that lie stumbled over his own doori mat.

.Mi' Ramsay MacDonald, who received an ovation from his followers, regret lad Sir It. Horne's tun-fliumpina. He a err (si tlie opinion of (lie emmIry was changing, hut Ihe change was against the Opposition and in favour of l.ahour. lie concluded hy declaring dial Sir \Y. .loynson Hicks’ molion .was one of censure, and if passed lie assured I lie Opposition he would do 1 1 is host to meet them on Ibo platforms of the country. (Prolonged Ministerial cheers.). At Hip conclusion of Mr MacDonald's speech Hie Liberals I rouped out of Hie House to hold a party meeting | lo determine what I heir altitude on l.iie vole should lie, and ennsequenliy exceptional interest attached lo Ihe speech of Mr Asquith, delivered a little later, in which he indicated at an early stage that the Liberals were prw pared to give I lie Government a lit lie more time in' turn round. Upon a division Sir \V. .Toynson Hicks’ molion was defeated hy 300 votes lo 2r>2. TEN6E iEOJVSENTS. MR ASQUITH NETTLED.' LLOYD GTORGL DDLS NOT VOTE. (A.u.si.raiia,n end N'.X. Assn.) LONDON, May 30. in I erect in I lie speeches was eclipsed hy the happenings outside Ihe .Chamber while the Liberals were ta'Lvmining Iheir altitude. Sir Robert Horne, know dig tOat the first mealing hud been abortive, made great play of Hie Liberals’ diilieulHi s. lie aroused loud C mservaiive laughler hy describ;ng iiie Liberals as “patient oxen, (reading mil Ihe corn of the Socialists, whoso day of slaughter is not averted bill postponed.” Sir Robert pictured the Liberal leaders bemoaning Iheir desiccated followers and murmuring, “alas my poor brothers." lie was subjected lo a constant lire of inlemiplkms, necessiialing Ihe chairman of committee appealing for a fair hearing for him. The second Liberal meeting las!od an hour. All who were present were j pledged lo stercey, hut infor il became known llial the majority were against Mr Lloyd George’s desire to administer a rebuff to Hie. Government. Mr Asquith's phrase: “I favour .fair play,” revealed Hie Liberal decision. It was greeted wilh loud Labour cheers, coupled with iionical cheers from Hie (Conservatives.

Mr Asquilh. nettled, asked if the cheers were intended to suggest that because Ihe Liberals were prepared lo give the Government lime they were "obsequious minions of Labour." A Voice: Patient oxen.

Mr Lloyd George significantly enough, did not return to the House after Ihe second meeting lo hear Mr Asquilh's speech. The Labour members showed no satisfaction at Mr Asquilh's decision, which they regarded as equivalent io a claim that the Liberals had left them in office on probation, with a warning lo mend their ways.

Mr !•'. E. Guest, Liberal member for Stroud (Gloucester)', intimated that he was unable to follow Mr Asquitb's guidance. He voted against the Government. One lain#rcd Liberals supported the Government, and 40, including Mr Lloyd George, abstained from voting, Eight Liberals voted with the Opposition. Two Labour members came from beds of sickness for Ibe division.

IVIR IHACDONALD'S REMEDIES. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) CONDON, May 29. During the debate on the noconfldencc motion in the House, of Commons, Mr MacDonald declared that the lasl Government bad left the present one with bare cupboards. Unemployment schemes were inextricably involved with the problem of local rating and Imperial taxation, lie • outlined the Government's proposed national schemes to meet the position. They included great arterial roads, and afforestation. The latter, he said, was bound up in the land settlement scheme, lie was of the opinion thai the Government ought Lo plant. 30,000 acres annually. Mr Stanley Baldwin, Leader of the Conservatives, said Dial the Government's suggested schemes would not prove a positive remedy for unemployment, regarding which the Labour Parly was as far off as when it assumed office.

The debate on the main Estimates was adjourned sine die.