BRITISH & FOREIRN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1923, Page 1

BRITISH & FOREIRN ITEMS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N'.Z. PARLE ASSOCIATION. L..\ BOP KITH'S MOTION. LONDON. .Marc h 21 Mr Philip Snowden. Labourite, moved in the House of Commons the resolution of which he had given notice, to the effect that the capitalistic system of production and distribution hai led to the present impasse, that a gradual introduction of the system ol nationalising industries of an essential character is demanded by the need to rectify the conditions prevailing. It was agreed, by general consent that the debate on the motion should b- taken alter Easter. In moving the resolution. Mr Snowden said capitalism has tailed to lullil its functions, and to give the people a good world wherein to live. 'Tt had i failed also adequately to utilise the | national resources and productive powI er of the country. 1 Between the years IN ! and TJOfi. lie saul v. ages had ini'reused, by only IK i pc: cent. On the other hand, the in iconics received during that time by the non-cont nbntors ol bilioiir had increased twelvefold. The mass of the people were working under unhealthy conditions, and at low wages: while, at the other end of the social scale, people were so rich that even i.hcir imarrination could not, devise means for

spending their supor-nluimlfint wealth. Sir R. Monti moved the National Liberal (Lloyd George! Party’s amendment fas cabled on ATai'eli Id. lie declared that the capitalist system would increase wealth hotter than any other devisable system. Mr Snowden said that he did not propose a revolution. Ho would always resist confiscation, which. he said would end in disaster. There was no analogy between Socialism and Bolshevism. which were enemies of each other. Sir T.lovd Graeme stated Air Snow-

don's motion >.vns in liis opinion. m>nnmically find psychologically impossible. State control, in every ease. was unimaginative find inelastic, and it checked nil initiative. Britain's foreign trade depended on efficiency and initintivo. Th so v ore absent from Socialism, which would make n rich man poor, and would not make a poor man rich. Socialism was contrary to tho instinct of the mass of the British people. It wonld brine the country credit and trade to disaster. CENT V.' CONFER EXCE. LONDON, 'March 21. Sir E. McNeill, replying in Parliament. to n question. sn'd that a confrroncc will T><* "hold at Gonovn tin March ?J>. to consider the question of oxlotiding the principle of the Washington Treaty to non-signal my States, who are members of the League of Nations. The States who are not members, he said, will he advised of ibis conference.