BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 November 1923, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

AUSTRALIAN AM) N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. DEBATE IN COMMONS. LONDON, Nov. IT The House of Commons opened listlessly. The Leers, public and Dominions galleries were parked, d lie Ministerialist benches gradually tilled. Mr .Ramsay Alaeitonald moved the censure motion, complaining ol the Government's neglec t of unemploymoot, ami of the abseiiei- ol a [inliey, on it - part, ealculated to restore llh- iiilluence ol the country ahroad. and to re-establish intermit ional peaee and trade; al-o com demniiig the (fovernmeiit for leaving millions destitute in older to fight, a general election on an undi-oloscd scheme ol tariffs and of Imperial I’refcrence, conceived l.y a section ol eupitaL ists in their own intere-t-, which will increase tlm cost of living, and eiic ,ur

age tin; formation of trust.-. London, Nov. i;l In the House ol Coiiimoiis. the Loader of the Labour Parly. Mr l{;unsiy Macdonald moved the motion of censure on the Government, of which notice had been given. Mr .Macdonald spoke for an hour and a ipiaider. He was Huent and (diuptenl , though a! times lie seemed a little weary. lie aroused laughter by suggesting that the “political horizon was darkened bv the flight of hnmew'ardhound political -on,.’’ The Government's fiscal problem, he said, was like a nig in a poke though he was doubtful if it even contained a pig. The Labour Leader pn-sed the Government to define what it meant by meat. W'liat the late Joseph Chamberlain said twenty year- ago was true today. ‘A on cannot give Imperial preference without imposing a tax on Innd!” "The Prime .Minister.” lie -aid "is going to smash our exports and carrying trade.” Mr Baidu in comtnourcd hi- speech with a review of the European situation. Then lie passed to a clear enunciation of bis tariff policy, vrhHi aruip<d continual Conservative cheers. II was easy for critics to -ay, remarked the Premier, that there had been a lack ol foresight in eon tier! ion wn !i unemployment. The Government had hoped that tilings would get beUer. but uw big to the <»<•<■!! pa li.. nol the l{ u hr. a settlement in Europe bad been po-i

'(In 1 nil tslam I: n g reason lor Dm prnpused <lrn>l ir liscul changes. H,. < <u l li ll u<•, 1. ‘'ln evriv market »v iiiv met by higli- <•'' tarill's. In Amorim, I lie iai i/1' wall is snvriil y-h vc per rent higher ilian belore tlu: war; in Italy it is a hundred per rent liiiilicr ; Sp;iin IJo per cent : " liile mr greater peril I'm lie- I’m hire i> India’s I iyyli C to imir.se larill -." -Mr Baldwin said: ■‘There i- a possibility el enormously increased exports Imm Germany when Unit country Imgins to Irade freely.” The niosl obvious place lor these goods , ;M first was to the openest and I'reesi market that (lerniany could pet. The safeguarding of the Industries Act was far ton limited in its application. .Mr Ihdd-| win concluded: "I would not risk the Marly of which I have heeo elected leaded so reeently, unless I was convinced from the bottom of my heart, that, wh.a! 1 propose is right. R heery . I ,|„ not claim infallibility. I mac he wrong

II so, prove tile .• o in the country.” •Mr Lloyd George followed. Me said the I’rinie .Ministers speech would deepen the amazement of the country at his ill-considered, [neeipitate. fo'dish decision to plunge it into a general deei foil. ‘I lie only achievemo'.il. of the Government, had keen to juomotc Lihernl unity! The i’rime .Minister had raised tin old controversy which not only had divided the nation, lint his own Cahinet. At that moment one of his pockets was bulging with file resignation of |,m d Derli.v (Opposit ion laughter and Ltheral cries of “Deny it”). iMr Lloyd George conlioued that for a week Mr Baldwin had keen imploring Lord Ijirketdtead to save him from disaster, "T exported to hear." hi l continued, •‘from the i’rime Minister some, tiling ahout his policy for the Dominions. What is it? I’ro]d.-als were put lot ward ut the Imperial Conference with a real desire to unite and strengthen tlic Empire and to promote trade relations between the Dominions and this country. lias the Crime .Minister nothing hotter than preserved crayfish ? fit. is a tinker’s policy! AAluit the Dominions want is to Ining their products hero under conditions width will enable them to compete favourably with every other country in the world. In IDO, the ‘Liberal (iovernmetit put forward a policy for inij roved transport relations with the Dominions. 1.1 was turned down because the I'rime Minister ol Australia was waiting for Mril'f reform. The policy of 11)07 was hotter than the (SmVrnmonl's present wretched policy of preference for tinned stulls. .1 he proposal is to increase taxation in order to relieve unemployment. by putting more, money into the pockets ol lho fanner and landowner.

Mr Kirkwood (Labourite from (•!■•!s--gowj interjected : “Von taught thorn those trifles." Mr Lloyd Georg-: “Instead cl' devntin.fX his time to the settlement ol Europe. the Prime Minister is tearing down it system whieli. with nil it’ defects, has accumulated the wealtli which etiuhled Riilaiu to go through the most exhausting war." LABOUR -MOTION DEFEATED. LONDON, Novemher JO. In the House of {.'ominous. Mrs l'hillijisou (Toiy) r ougratulated the Prime -Minister on his courageous, sinceic action. Per the first time, she said, women Imd a ehutiee of judging this kind ot thing. They would he a big I'aeinr in the. situation. A tariff on goods could he abandoned if it were not a success, hut Labour's policy, she declared, spell ruin. Mr .). It. t'lynes (Labour! twitted the tluvermneut with first committing themselves to a policy ami then proceeding with an inquiry as to the effects. " Sir P. Lloyd Oraclin' wound tin tiie debate. Tie said the Ooveinmeut's solution was advisedly designed to meet unique conditions, especially competition from countries faying hover wages. The censure motion wr.s defeated by >*~285 votes to IPO. ASQPniI'S CEITICISM. LONDON. Novemher 15. The lit. Hon. H. H. Asquith. in the course of ii speech at Albeit Hall, opening the Liberal campaign said that while the Baldwin Government was studiously vague and nebulous, the Dominion Primers afforded a refreshing contrast. Air Bru*e slid: ‘Tf there is to be no tax on wheat or meat and it wo are going also to shut the door on other methods, we have closed the dom to a groat extent to any real stride forward in Empire development. AH Asquith commented : “So out ol the mouth of one Dominion statesman who was most pronounced in. hi- views on Imperial prelercnce, the Government s policy is foredoomed, and condemned in advance." DEBTS TO BIUTAIN. LONDON. Novemlier 10. Air Neville Chamberlain, replying to questions in the House ol Commons, said that France’s debt 'co Britain, with accrued interest, totalled £61*2,000,000. It was true that the French Chamber )ia ; i voted credits of eight hundred

million francs for armaments for the (Little Entente. Britain had received no interest on either 1 rivrao s ot the Little Entente’s, war debts. Sir A. V Samuel : "Is not this an opportunity to renM'sent to prance that if she can lind money for armaments and make loan; to other State.-, she should make payment- to Britain?” (l-Twers). So- .1. Dari,!-,<ii ; ( anno! representations also 1,,- made r,, TeriuaiiV. as they !.ought tmarly all tlm And: alum wo, 'I ' No replies v ere git e:i.