BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1924, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N/Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. THE CONFERENCE PROPOSALS. LONDON, Jan. 15. In the Commons Mr McDonald announced that the proposals of the Imperial Conference would lie submitted for a free vote in the Commons. SCENES IN COMMONS. LONDON. Jan. 15. There is intense interest in what is regarded as the most momentuous Parliament in many years. This is shown by the fact that the first member of the present Commons arrived tit five o’clock in the morning; also the great crowds iu the vicinity of the Mall and 'Whitehall, who effusively cheered their Majesties and the Prince of Wales as they drove to St Stephens. There were brilliant scenes in lioth Houses. Tn the Commons. Mr Asquith, who had recovered, sat next to Mr MacDonald on the front opposition bench. The proceedings in the Commons opened breezily and the Labourites, supported by the Liberals, opposed Mr Baldwin’s motion to appoint the l on-' servatives, James Hope Mid Captain l’itzroy as Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman cl A\ ays and Means respectively. Mr MacDonald said that it was impossible to pass such a nioiion without a division which w ould be regret table as there would lie difficulties enough otherwise iu this Parliament. tie suggested that during the debate on the Aildross-iu-Reply. these posts should remain unfilled.

.Mr John Ward protested that party arrangements behind the seines were responsible for Mr MacDonalds attitude.

Mr Jack .Jones shouted. amid laughter, that ho believed in the spoils going to the victors. Mr Baldwin withdrew his motion pending the result ol the debate on the Aildress-iu-Reply. DEBATE IN THE. LORDS. LONDON. Jan. IG. Li the House „f Lords, Lord Grey said the effect of the political situation on foreign affairs was lamentable and could only be bettered if the three party system remained by an arrangement whereby the Secretary of Foreign Affairs took the haulers of the other two partis into his confidence, 1,11,1 so could say that on the general lines of his policy the country was behind him. The King might find himself in a position wherein the Prune Minister, with a minority Da the House of Commons might advise a dissolution and the House of ('ominous, hv a large majority might pass an address praying that the King shall with-liold a dissolution. All parties should find a way to prevent the King being placed in such an invidious position .

Lord Curzoii said that it the Labour Government pursued a foreign policy consistent with the dignity and interests of the country there would he i,o fractious opposition trom the Conservatives. but if any violent proposals of Labour were submitted to Parliament. the House of Lords would remember it was then* duty to conserve principles which lay at the root ut good Government and of Society itself. Gird Haldane asked their Lordships not to lie alarmed at the prospect of a Labor Government. There was no fear of any revolutionary laws being passed.

Lord Birkenhead asked the House not to accept Lin'd Haldane's smooth and easy assurances. No more reckless gamble was ever undertaken by the Liberal leaders than the proposed action the prerent era's It ' Gtis. •! r.'itgCT the Liberal? scmr.ch tY.ur or doom The L::_L .= y- - the .’dtlressr: :n reck.- 'hi Lire, .c.-rck DIVISION .SOON EXPECT ED. LONDON'. Jan. 15. A division ousting the Government is expected on Monday night. Mr MacDonald and Mr Asquith have cemented a tacit agreement in such a way that the Liberals can freely vote for it. It is noteworthy that Mr MacDonald and Air Lloyd George have uttered the Government’s sentence of death, but without exultation. There were no aiming phrases or high pitched warwhoops. Mr Baldwin also preferred to leave hard-hitting for the No-confidence debate.

The most important part of Mr MacDonald's speech, apart from the terms of the No-confidence motion, was a passage dealing with the Imperial Conference. He said that he regretted the mover of the Address has associated himself with the claim that if the Dominion Premier.-, met our Government iu conference, tnis Parliament was under ail obligation to accept. the jOoiifercnro’s . recommendations. Mr MacDonald described this as subversive of the British rights of self-goveriinieiit. 11l the King’s speech, he said, a very interesting attempt was made to imply that the pledges which the Government gave the Dominions at the Conference were given without a departure from the existing fiscal system of this country. ‘‘lt is a tricky sort of expression.” he said. "1 am not going in for log chopping, hut if Ministers are going to extend a small hoginning, which was never accepted as a system, the extension of an extension becomes a new system. Me aro all opposed to a tax on food, and when food has been taxed, it always wa» taxed for revenue purposes. That is the only justification alleged. Then, one nice day. something creeps in. and we lay this down : ‘Where food is already taxed for revenue, that part which conies from the Dominions may he subject to a remission of the taxation for Dominion purposes'.’ ”