BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1924, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT CONSUMERS. fRK V T Kl l s TkLF.OIiAMS. I /Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Eeh. 18. A sharp warning to food profiteers is contained in a Cabinet coniinuniq ik\ which declared that there is no reason for the increases as high as filt.v per cent, in meat and other prices, whereof the Government has received iulormatioii from various sources. The Cabinet intimates that it has rc<|nested the law officers to draft emergency measures to prevent the exploitation of consumers during the present strike.

ANOLO-PKItSf AN OIL CONTROVERSY. LONDON. Eeh. E.V

In the Commons, replying In a question regarding the Oovornment’s decision not to sell Anglo-’Persian holdings, Mr Snowden said the Burma. Oil Coy. apparently had been prepared, to pay Let ween 75s and 80s lor the shares. This would represent a profit of nearly GOs on the original price and about, a sovereign on the current market price on five million shares. The Government, after a full investigatiii, was satisfied it would not have been ia the national interest to part, with the shares to the combine, also in particular, the naval interests for which the original investment in an independent oil company was made, would have been seriously prejudiced. Mr Snowden added that as the existence of a doubt in the matter was unfair to the Anglo-Persian company, the British Government had no intention whatsoever of reconsidering the decision.

POSSIBLE SETTLEMENT. LONDON. Fob. 10

Tt is understood Mr MacDonald "'ll! probably he asked to summon the P:'ities Lo re-open negotiations. II is likely a settlement of the unfit strike r,ill result.

QUESTIONS IN COMMONS. (Received this day at. 12.4.) p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 19. Replying in the House of Commons to Mr Black, wro suggested that steps be taken to secure that hence* forth Chinese contract labour to he employed in Xaru phosphate mining, should only bo recruited under proviso that a certain proportion of women folk accompany the men, Mr Thomas said the British Phosphate Commissioners informed him that many Chinese were offered free accommodation for their wives at the Island but hitherto the social prejudices of the Chinese prevented more than a very few women taking advantage of this. In moving the money resolution covering the expenditure in connection with the fool and mouth diesase, Mr Buxton said the outbreaks cost three and a quarter millions. There had been 2,000 outbreaks in eight months, hut the situation had rapidly improved since the first of Decombchr. He encouraged the hope that the restrictions over a wide area would bo removed soon. Mr Shaw moved tbe second reading of the Unemployment Insurance Bill, abolishing the three weeks gap in the payment of benefits and permitting payment to the end of the term of unemployment. The bill was read a second time.

('OX FTC REX CE RESOLD TIOXS. LONDON, Fob. 10 In the House of Commons, replying to Colonel Clretton in regard to the forthcoming discussion in the Commons on the resolutions passed by the Imperial Conference, the Hon J. B. dynes said the Government was considering the whole question and would take an early opportunity ot 7 informing the House as to what pro- ’ cedure would he anticipated. The resolutions will be submitted to the Commons at an early date.

GOVERNMENT FACING ANOTHER

DIFFICULTY

(Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 19. Having won the day on the most controversial features of the Finance Bill, namely, the authorisation for the Government to reduce expenditure

|,y decree and the increase of taxes - generally by twenty per cent, the Go- » comment is now faced with a hard ' battle in the Senate over the TClec- ■ toral Reform Rill, mentioned on Itith Dec. The Left Democrats, who comprise the majority of the Senate, oppose the modified form of proportional representation which is a feature of the bill as passed by the Chamber and they demand a return to the old majority system, but it is anticipated that many will abstain from voting m order not to overthrow the Government on a question which is not regarded as of national importance.