THORNY PROBLEM

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11123, 5 February 1930, Page 5

THORNY PROBLEM

UNEMPLOYED INSURANCE BILL

COMMONS’ REJECTION Ob’ PEERS’ A'MEND MEN T

LARGEST ATTENDANCE IN lords since urn

NEW CLAUSE- NOT INSISTED ON

BUT BJL.L, MUST HAVE TIME LIMIT

Uniteu press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright

(Received Feb. 4, 0.50 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 3

The Opposition benches in the House of Lords were more crowded than they have been since the Parliament Bill struggle in 1011, for the consideration of the House f Com mens’ rejection, of the House of Lords amendments on the Unemployed Insurance Bill. An urgent Whip had been sent out in response to which Peers were present who had not attended for years. The Peeresses’ gallery was filled, and m-- :>v members of the House of Commons were present at the bar of the House.

The atmosphere was most lc: so when Lord Parmoor introduced the subject, expressing the opinion that there was no need for excited statements about a crisis. The House of Lords was competent to suggest amendments to Bills within its limits, but when the Speaker ruled that these were a breach of the House of Commons privilege, and the House rejected them by a large majority, other considerations arose. Lord Salisbury had described the House of Lords’ action as an assertion of the anxiety concerning extra burdens being put on the taxpayers. Thesewere considerations which constitutional practice and Statute had committed to the House of Commons for. final decision. Lord Salisbury said they were not merely there to make recommendations. He did. not accept the plea of breach of privilege, which had been used as a mere device to relieve the House of-Commons of its duty of giving the reasons for its action. He would not insist upon Lord Darling’s new clause, but this intensified the need for the Bill being only temporary.

Lord Buckmaster said he hoped the House would not take action which appear hostile to the claims of the poor people. He was not impressed by the arguments for making the measure temporary. If they were seeking a. collision with the House of Commons, that was not the moment for the struggle. The House without division decided not to insist on Lord Darling's new clause, but by 15G votes to 142 resolved to insist on tlie insertion of a time limit to the Bill. After the House of Lords’ decision a Cabinet meeting was held, at which it was decided to call a special meeting of the Parliamentary Labor Party on February 4. to submit the matter to the rank and file. Labor members are undoubtedly angry. and a section is spoiling for a fight with the Lords, but the general impression in. the lobbies is tliat a compromise w,ill be reached saving the Unemployment Bill and preventing a crisis.

HOUSE TO DISCUSS LATEST

AMENDMENT

LORDS -MAY ACCEP'I COMPROMISE.

PROBABLY THREE YEARS IJ.MIT INSTEAD O'E ONE YEAR

United Free* Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (Received Feb. 1. 0.00 p.m.'i LONDON, Feb. 1.

'J’he House of Lords amendment comes again before the House oi Commons tonight. If the Commons agam delete the time limit it will he a most serious challenge to tie lands, hut there is reason to “'eve that the House of Lord* will ae. eept a. compromise gesture trom the Government. This is likely to lithe substitution of three .’.cars' limit instead oi one year, and it is understood Cabinet intends t-o put this proposal before the pauy ni order to avoid losing the Fill. a* it is recognised that the struggle m the House of Lords will neeessltiti an immediate dissolution. Doubtless the Labor Party menu ing in the morning will disclose a minority anxious to disagree. but Ministers should have no difficulty m securing a majority tor thou compromise. The fact of the naval conference is generally recognised as a strong argument against an election at the present time.

-UNEMPLOYED ROLL- INCREAB-

ING

INSURANCE BILL AY ILL ADD ANOTHER, 100,000

MINiSTER DEPLORES EXAGGERATION/OF FIGURES

Halted Pre»s Assn. by El. Tel Oopyrlchl (Received Feb. 4, 8 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 4. In the House of Commons, on the motion for the third reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill, Sir A. Steel Maitland raised the unemployment problem, pointing out that the number of workless was now higher thau at any period for seven years, and was nearly fifty thousand more than last year. Mr Thomas, replying, admitted that the register figures were worse and, moreover, at lest 100.000 must be added by the end of tho month by reason of the operation of tho new Unemployment Insurance Bill, but it would bo a profound mistake to magnify tlio figures. Business men had told him that this false impression was doing incalculable harm. Mr Samuel pleaded this was a national emergency, and both siaes should he summoned to aid the Government. Ho asked how far had Mr Thomas proceeded with his plans for Empire development. , The Bill was read a third time.