BRITISH POLITICS.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18874, 18 February 1933, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM CENSURE VOTE DEFEATED. CHANCELLOR REVIEWS WORK. BRITAIN’S LEAD TO EUROPE. . United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Feb. 16. The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr George Lanshury, in the House of Commons to-day moved a vote of censure on the Government In respect of its handling of the unemployment problem. The mover criticised the tariff policy of the Government and its refusal to embark on wide utility schemes for absorbing the unemployed. •The Chancellor of the Exchequer,

Mr Neville Chamberlain, argued that, although much so - called utility expenditure was extravagant, developments were being made. He recalled the course of events since 1930, when confidence was badly shaken. That confidence, he tv,r Nevillo said, had beon Chamberlain, largely restored, so that to-day they were embarrassed by a sort of flight to the pound. The Ottawa Conference had restored confidence, and Britain’s conversion operations had cheapened money. They must, if possible, raise gold prices, and in any case, they must raise sterling prices. The success of of the voluntary meat regulation arrangements made at Ottawa had encouraged the Government to think it might be extended to other commodities. Government’s Conclusion. The Chancellor said the Government had come to the conclusion that expenditure on public works as. a remedy for unemployment had failed lamentably. Between, • April, 1924, and September, 1931, £700,000,000 had been spent In this way, but had only touched the fringe of the problem. The Import Duties Act had enabled Britain to regain the 'control of the home market. The excess of imports over exports had been reduced by £120,000,000. The Chancellor said he was disappointed and surprised that America had not agreed to the postponement of tlie December war debt payment. However, he saw no reason to despair. “We are making progress with other nations on the subjects to be discussed at the World Conference," continued Mr Chamberlain. “ The Government’s steps ate justified by the fact that other countries are suffering worse than Britain, whose exports in 1932 were slightly better than In 1931, whereas the German, American and French exports all dropped. Panicky, hysterical changes of policy will not restore .trade.” Mr Winston Churchill, ex-Chancel-lor of the Exchequer, said he deplored the “ hopeless prospect ” offered by Mr Chamberlain of simply allowing world events to take their course. Sir Herbert Samuel said: “The fact that other countries have worse fortunes Is no consolation to us. . The Government must overcome its inertia and attempt at least a partial alleviation of unemployment, even though this admittedly is largely due to international causes.”

The Prime Minister, Mr MacDonald, in summing up Hie debate, criticised Mr Lloyd George's speech of the previous day as reminiscent of his endeavours to he an international agitator. • The Liberal leader, he said, had wandered along until he came to a series of notes which seemed to be from a 10-year-old speech. Referring to suggestions that relief works should be provided for the unemployed, Mr MacDonald pointed out that 3,000.000 people had been put to work which was unroductive and unnecessary. As soon as the House told the unemployed it was prepared to spend capital uneoonomically upon them, 1t was deluding them. The Government’s policy included the restoration of national and international trade. Mr MacDonald begged the House to renew its confidence in the Government. The censure motion was defeated bv 414 votes to 49.

CENSURE MOTION

defeat in commons. United Press Assn.—Elee. Tel. Copyright (Received Feb. 17, 2 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 16. In the House of Commons, the censure motion 'on the Government's unemployment policy, sponsored by the “ welsh Liberals," was defeated by ill votes to -it).