HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1923, Page 2

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CA-BLE ASSOCIATION. THE SINGAPORE BASK. LONDON, July 25. Mr Baldwin (Premier) replying to Mr Lambert in the House of Commons, said the Singapore naval base was recommended by the Admiralty to enable modern battleships to lie docked for repairs-. The recommendation had been endorsed by the Committee of Imperial Defence. Mr Lambert : May it be assumed the Foreign Office was not consulted ] Mr Baldwin: 1 should not think that. I do not know whether it was specially consulted, but the Foreign Office is represented in the Cabinet.”

Mr Shirley Bonn: lias your attention been directed to a statement by leading Japanese statesmen that, if Britain is to look after its interests in the Pacific, the building of the Singapore base is the natural sequel to tho end of the British-Japnnese naval alliance ? Dll- Baldwin : I have not seen it, bn! it seems a very sensible statement. CENSORING DIVORCE REPORTS. LONDON, July 20. The 11oii~o of Commons’ Select Committee to consider the restriction of reports on divorce eases, has concluded taking evidence, ami lias agreed on its report, which it is understood, will recommend that the scope of Lord Evelyn Cecil’s Bill should lx- widened to prevent the publication of indecent matter in all judicial proceedings, and that as regards divorce, the newspapers should be permitted to publish only the statements of the petitioner and the defence, and the judge’s summing up on any points of law and the names of the witnesses, but no evidence.

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LONDON, July 20

A House of Commons Committee, presided over by Mr J. R. Clvnes (Labour) recommends that a strip of the Members’ Gallery on the Opposition side of the House should be reserved as a dominions’ gallery for overseas Members of Parliament visiting England, High Commissioners, and Ministers ot foreign countries. Space is so limited that- it. is impossible to arrange more extensive acoommodation. IRAQ AND PALESTINE. LONDON. July 20. In tho House of Commons, Mr Ornis--I>v Gore, speaking oil the ( denial (Mike estimates, mentioned that, with the signing of the Lausanne Treaty, tlu- Turkish rights in Iraq and Palestine bad practically ended. He announced that three battalions were leaving Iraq immediately, while the Palestine garrison was also being reduced.