THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1922, Page 3

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT

\rSTI! A!, 1A N AND N .7,. C'A r. I,K AHSOf'IATJO (f IN THE COMMONS. LONDON, June 13. In the House of Commons, sharp criticism was levelled against the continued existence of Mr Lloyd George’s secretariat. It came into existence [luring war time. The criticis complained of its unnecessary expense. Lord Rcliert Cecil deprecated whit he called this governing of the country by a system of Cabinet committees especially in connection with foreign politics. He said that the new national departments did much more than merely word the Cabinet’s decisions. Mr Adamson (Labour) said that he was glad that this change had been made. The Labour Party had no use for a system which did not provide for a record of the business done, and for the co-ordinating of the Cabinet’s wowith the other departments. He hoped the Cabinet Secretariat would become a, permanent part of the British Parliamentary system and of the constitution. . Mr Lloyd George, replying to the debate, said the Geddes Economy^Committee bad not been able to criticise the expense of his department. He denied that bis Secretariat bad any control over foreign policy, but said it w s essential to have a record of the Cabinet’s decisions, in order to preserve continuity. Lord Cecil (said the Premier) now appealed for a return to the old system, but the world wanted a change from these old methods. What was the use of setting up the League of nations if the world were satisfied with the old methods. Wc ought not to go bach to the old system, which has plunged the world into war before even the world knew that the war was near. The motion for rejection of the Seei'etariat vote was defeated by 205 to UL