BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1924, Page 1

BRITISH POLITICS.

PALM.]AMENT OPENS. MU MACDONALD'S SPEECH. [Reuters Tee eg hams.] LONDON, February 12. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, Prime Minister, in the House of Commons, announced that the Government were considering the proposal of appealing lor a world conference on reconstruction prospects, and promising that the British Government would welcome every movement to enlist support thereto. Mr MacDonald announced there will he a saving of nine thousand pounds in the Ministerial .salaries, comprising the live-thousand salary to-the Foreign Secretary. The Rt. Hon. Mr Clynes’s would he increased to £.5000 because b • i- th..- Louder in the House of Common-'. laid Habbme's .salary would '•< six tlions,-uid. t :.uiuii:-a:_ bis speech Mr MacDonald s’id that ac.riciiiture was a subject of mod pressing national interest. Some >1 the claims iini.st receive immediate attention. The present rating v.as eased im iiiiseientilie principles, To •elp agriculture, he said: "We shall ail touch tariffs or hounties. Agri'idturc needs a .stimulus to light ii iwn battles! The Government proposes Mtpp-oi'l. with ciiliei a loti ii or wilh cuarantees. (he agricultural ronmiiinty’s eo-op-eialive enterprises, including h.- buying of raw materials and implenciiis mill in the marketing of'produce, ml in anything, else calculated in make .•/riculturo :i pi* vi ll nml j>i hi-i-clrv. We ale establishing a Wages .card for the farm la-hoiirer«.

Air MacDonald continued: ‘J intend to have the big job of settling the outstanding Anglu-Russiari dilfh-ulties. I am sending to Moscow a complete statement of these including the debts. I hope tu hear, in a few days, that Al. liakovsky has received final instructions for the opening of negotiations. The sooner that we close the past volumes in the Anglo-ltussian transactions and open a new volume, the better! I hope that soon there will he more amicable, helping entries therein.’' “t 11 loss there are unforeseen happenings. there will he a complete agreement regal ding the I’aiatinate in a few days. AI ,v first task was to create a 1 ealthier Anglo-Ereneh atmosphere. Our diplomacy must have as its objective that of being straight and absolutely Irani;. The reparations remain as the lir-t hai to a settlement. A Foreign Secretary's success may he ganged by whether he achieves an international agreement as to armaments. Germany must enter the League of Nations. I hope also that Russia will enter. We must all he in the League! 1 intend in submit to the House itself all q ucftinns of national and international contern. Even ii we should he expelled from oflicc this week, we will have made our mark in history!” LONDON. February J‘-’. | The seats, gangways, and galleries I "I the House of Commons wer*. j acked j when the Prime Al mister (.Mr Alia Do- j aid) rose to move the apupint lueiit of j All Robert Young as Chairman ol Mays , and Means. The Premier said that the present i , oii-liiiition of ii’c llo'nsc. a- to parties j put inoiv. respon.-ibilii \ on individual lin ’ll ibei - - I.ahom . he said would surrender the rein-, "i Government only' T cither of the Opposition Thirties sue- j lesslully mote-d a. vote of no-eontidenee. j H. v.yui on: ••Although my position j is imniue. T do ye.it think that I will la- the lasi Prime Minister in Ibis |.w I ion.” lie refer red to !{t. Hon. Mr Wheatley's sanctioning of a higher scale tor j pauper relief in the slum district, of I Poplar, and secondly his admitting the propriety of the Southwark Council's spending an additional £3OO in accepting a higher tender for printing, because the Council insisted on trade uninr, printers. Air MacDonald said that these actions must nut he interpreted a- meaning Hint the Govermnnel intend •a: to encourage sheer economic extravagance. On the contrary, they were d‘tin-mined to pursue a policy of econo-

TlU' Imperial and Economic Conference rcselnt ions, said tlic Premier, v.-.iiilil he submitted to tlic House ol ( ominous for its decision. Ho hoped, mil ing ilie week end. to receive tin* reji, vt oi' the Imperial Wireless Committee. 'ldle Prime .Minister said Hint the Housing problem <<>llld only lie solved wile ll decent, liu’.nau homes, at suitable iii.tais. were provided lor the musses !■ *' the working classes. 'I he Govorntr.eni was expediting the organisation 01 supplies, mutoriid and labour. It aimed at constructing houses for CSOO apie'e, and letting them at a weekly rental (including rates) of Its id per week- It was necessary In give the .1 ilding trade a guarantee of ooiitinni its work for it number ol years. Mr MacDonald hoped early to complete an agreement between the employers and the employees fur solving the labour problems in all tin l prodtict ve industries.

'Pile previous Governments, he said, had nibbled at the problems of unemployment. The two essentials were: first, work; and second, itp) ofleetive income coupled with insurance .schemes failing work. The Government, instead ■>' continuing the present direct method ol relieving unemployment, intended to concentrate on restoring trade. This was the only real remedy. They would he sunpoi ting the unemployed until trade revived. Therefore, they were speeding up the trade taeilities. and won extending the period ot the

export credits. The Government were also eonsider-

■Ug the whole question ol the national debt and it was appointing an authoritative Committee for these purposes. Mow is the lime, he said, to complete ,m honest, scientific survey of the national debt and the economic position of Britain. Britain had had to wait until 1024 for the recognition of Uus>l". uhicii wits the first step in a policy vi.ii-h i~ absolutely essential to a revival of Britain’s loreign trade. Questioned whether Mr Wheatley’s action would not prejudice the dockets negotiations, leading the strikers to expect lull unemployed maintenance. M. MacDonald said the Government would act in aceordanee with tin* lawTUI’ Pin: Ml DIGS WELCOME. LONDON. Feh. 12. ■ 'Good old Maid" was the huge crowd's uproarious welcome its the Premier crossed Parliament Square. The Moor ot the Mouse appeared topsy turvy, owing to prominent members wherein they had grown to be familiar. 'Members lost their seats in an unseemly scramble tor seats, which was the subject for vigorous protest by the Labourites. Several under-sec-retaries. pushed off the Treasury Bench, sat on their heels.

General cheers greeted Mr MacDonald, who was dressed in a lounge suit. HD long hair was untidy, contrasting with that of Mr Lloyd George’s and

Air Asquith's which is equally as long, but was carei'uly brushed like their clothes. Tlte outstanding impression was that Air MacDonald was in complete control of his followers, who are nowwell disciplined. They showed a tle--ire to behave like little gentlemen. When one supporter interrupted, the Premier turned, like a schoolmaster, and testily motioned him to keep quiet. Mr AtcaDonald emphasises his points impulsively, noisily driving his fist into His palm, with an earnestness and a determination to get things done. Dr Chappie asked the Government to extend to Colonial visitors a six months immunity from the British In come tax, which would lie an incentive to exhibition visitors to make a longer stay. Air Phillip Snowden (Chancellor of the Exchequer! replied there was an adequate reason for modifying the law. In the House of Commons the debate was adjourned. THE HOrSE OK LORDS. LONDON, Feb. 12 I,ord Haldane, in the House of Lord-, delivered Labour's policy statelllelll . Lord Ciir/.on criticised the recognition ol Russia. "Without- guarantees, it was the greatest mistake in the world. Lord Chelmsford (First Lord of the Admiralty) in explaining his position, In- said that it was almost impossible for Labour to find supporters who would accept peerages. Therefore they were compelled to seek in the House of Lords for representatives among Hie peers who were detached from polities. Lord Chelmsford said that lie had accepted office on the distinct understanding that if he were unable to follow the Government’s policy, ho would he allowed to resign. LONDON, Eeh. 12 At the Conservative Party Conference. Air Baldwin (Leader) declared: “Von are not going to heat Labour by a policy of tranquility, negation or sitting still.

PRESS VIEWS. LONDON, Eeh. 13. The m-w-papers of all shades of opinion are unanimous in stating that there is hardly anything in Air MacDonald's speech which might not. have been spoken by a Liberal or a Conscri vativo statesman in similar circumstances. The Ce i.servatire journals, however, warn their readers that the real Socialist policy has not been disclosed. The "Daily Telegraph” says .Mr MacDonald intends to he harmless, because lie must. ! The ••.Morning Post," says the CouS. -rvalue Party has passed protection into the bottom ol ils knapsack, ilie 1 Labour party, faced with unexampled unemployment, has tied itxcll by inhibitions mile)] more drastic than now shackle the Conservatives. The --M,(lining Post” commends Mr MacDonald's reference to France and Al. Poincare, and it adds: “if lie can only succeed in coming to an agreement- with the Cuai d'Orsav, he will l, c entitled to the credit which, every paiiioti*- Englishman will be ready to acknow ledge!” The "Daily Chronicle’’ says Air .MacDonald's failure to make precise proposals showed that three weeks in office were insufficient to enable him to cn-stalli'C his policy and express it ill the terms of a <leli'ii:«i constructive programme. THE SOCIAL SIDE LONDON. Eeh. 12. The usual brilliant Parliament eve dinners and receptions were given by Conservative and Liberal hostesses. Mrs Noel Buxton was the (lovern-im-'.i hostess, when nearly one thousand guests assembled at the Hyde Park Hotel, where a democratic note was struck h v the wearing of morning dress by the entire company at the hostess’s request. The guests included Peers and many other titled people. they mingling with the Alinislors and with lifelong workers in the Labour cause. The rooms were decorated with red flowers. HOF SI? OF C.'OAIMOaS ADJOFRNS. LONDON. February ML After Air ABn-Donald's statement, the House of ('ominous adjourned.