MR LLOYD GEORGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1922, Page 1

MR LLOYD GEORGE.

“BACK TO THE LAND!” tU'tnALIAN AND N.Z. GABLE ASSOCIATION. LONDON, Dec. 5. Air Lloyd George made a speech in the Address-in-Reply debate on unemployment. The House was half empty when Air Lloyd George. rose. When his name was flashed on the indicators in the library and smoking rooms members flocked back, headed by AirChamberlain and Air Bonar Law. The House was soon crowded. Air Lloyd George evidently was -purposely nonprovocative, and lion-critical of the Government.

In his speech 1 Air Lloyd George slipported the National Liberals’ amend nient to the Address-in-Reply, demanding an enquiry into British agriculture He said that from the viewpoints both of tho production of food and the em, ployment of labour, drastic and farreaching steps were necessary to deal with agriculture. No civilised nation had neglected its agriculture to the extent Britain had. There was no more serious feature of Britain’s life than the population of her rural areas. Only 9 per cent of the population lived there. There .was no country in the world, except Russia, where the employment per 100 acres was less than in Britain.

Labour voices: Why didn’t you do something!

Air Lloyd George: I made efforts, though T was not satisfied with them, during the war. We increased tho production of food from enough for fourteen to nineteen million people. ATr Lloyd George added, upon the reorganisation of labour largely depended whether unemployment would he a permanent menace to Britain. Mr Bonar Law, replying, said the main expedients discussed for dealing with agriculture were generally protection or subsidies. The latter had been tried, and been proved a failure. The former was barred. He agreed that many aspects of agriculture need ed investigation. He could not ’ accept the amendment. He promised inquiries on many of tho matters raised.

Mr Sanders, replying, said he proposed to appoint a Departmental Committee to enquire into the differences in prices received by tho producers and the prices paid by the consumer. The amendment was defeated by 267 votes to 52. The Labourites and National Liberals did not vote. The King’s Speech was then carried without a division.