THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20178, 5 March 1931, Page 9

THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

TEAPES DISPUTES BILL. MEASURE TO BE WITHDRAWN. (t/KITM PBRSB ASgqofAT;o*—BJ JLICTBIO OOP*BiaHT,) LONDON, March 3. The Liberal and Labour Parties met separately to consider the position caused by the Liberal amendment to the Trades Disputes Bill, making strikes illegal, and enabling the Bill to be withdrawn. Mr Ramsay Mac Donald (Prime Minister) told the Labour members that the amendment was quite unacceptable. Mr A. Hay day, oil bohalf. of the Trades Union Council, Teepfliinended the dropping p£ the Bill, Later Sii; William .Towitt (AttorneyGeneral) at a Standing upnimittse meeting moved the withdrawal pf the Bill, ' declaring 'that the amendment tafide the position of trade unions more difficult than it had been for half a century. Sir Kings ley Wood (Conservative) expressed the opinion that the withdrawal was really due to the Trades Union Council, because it saw that the amendment effectually took away the use of the general strike. Dr. L. Burgin (Liberal) described Sir. William Jo Witt's reason for-withdrawal as a mockery and a sham. The Liberals' constructive amendment had not been considered on it's merits. The withdrawal motion was carried without a division.

COST OF SINGAPORE BASE. LONDON, March 3. In the House of Commons, Mr A, V. Alexander (First Lord of tlio Admiralty), In a written answer to a question, said the total expenditure on the Singapore Base, including tho floating dock, to date, was approximately £2,772,000, The date for the completion of the main contract was 11)35. SIR CHARLES TREVELYAN'S RESIGNATION. tßßiTiaa omqiAt RUGBY, March 3. At a meeting uf tho Parliamentary Labour Party Sir Charles Trevolyan (who was President of tho Board of Education) explained his reasons for resigning from tlie Government. Ho later announced that ho would not make a personal statement in tho House of Commons.

electoral REFORM. BILL TO BE DISCUSSED. (ISITtBB OWCM& WWBMBS) ItUQBY, March. 3. Mr llamsay Mac Donald (Prime Minister), in tho Houso of Commons, proposed a discussion on the Electoral Reform Bill,, embodying the principle of the alternative vote in Parliamentary elections. Mr Stanley Baldwin (Conservative Leader) resisted, on the ground that the proposed time-table involved limiting the discuwifln by a closure motion, which was undesirable in respect of such .a measure. Mr Mac Donald's motion, was carried.