HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 February 1924, Page 3

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

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I’Eli CAPITA TAXATION

A comparison. [hy TKI.KGItAI’If —I’Klt I'ItESS ASSOCIATION.] LONDON, Feb. 27. The ID lion Phillip Snowden .Chancellor ol the Exchequer > in a writeln answer to a quo-tloll n-ked 111 tile ( oi'itnoii-. gives the following eompari--o'l of per capita Luxation for 1928-21: Dritaio LI I New /ealand Ll:id. An-; rail;. LI I As lid, Canaihi e ; pis k,|. Fra nee Cli 17s 2d, Fuitcd Stales Li'. lls Id, Germany LI, and Italy C:t (is lid. Air S'liowilen point-, out that the comparison v.ith foreign countries must l.e Used with the greatest caution owing to their national wealth, tinaneiai SVS 11* Ills . SOf *1«11 Jliul OCOllOlllH* striMiiiios. Fnroij'ii niU*s itr<* ir;insl;itoil into sterling at par on the exchange. REPLIES TO (,]I’ESTIONS. [R E V TI: I: s J ra. E(; I; A Ms. ] LONDON. February 88. 11l the Commons. rep Ling to a sei ien( questions on articles ol Aleiobandbe iroiu Enited Kingdom *.o Australia and I rati of Imperial plvl'erom c ihenon. All W'eiil l I•: lilt- !.1 sti.iem.o.t 'bowing twenty-eight groups of ni te les of exports to Australia in i 922. exceeded those to foreign countries in twentyseven instances.

LONDON, Feb. 28. Replying to qno'lioits in the House of ('ominous the ID lion T Shaw <.Minister of Labour) announced that lie proposed to shortly introduce legislation dealing with the Washington Hours of Labour Convention. The .Minister added that, what had occurred

in (D■ i many- in contravention of the eon veil t ion could not absolve us from keeping on r w ord.

Air Ammon said that it was not iit tho public interest to publish the details of the new cruisers, hut they would conform to the requirements of the Washington Treaty. The Admiralty expected they would cost, between It and two millions. The ell’eei of their building on the number ol the personnel of the navy must depend on the decisions reached on tho replacement programme which would lie the subject of Government investigation. Tiie latest figures of light cruiser strengths of the Anglo-American and Fra neo-Japanese Navy were respec-

tively -18 29 and RU2N. Air Ammon added that had the full programme ol the late Government been embodied in I lie navy estimates the extra cost involved would have been approximately three millions and the additional personnel fourteen thousand. The increase in the ’.Mediterranean licet did not indicate a change in policy on the part of tiie Government.

TRADE FACILITIES RILL LONDON. February 28. 11l the Commons All (Ira ha in moved th" second reading of the Trade Facilities Dili embodying the Imperial Economic Conference proposals in regard to paying three-quarters of tile interest on loans ra'sed here by the I) - minions and colonies, for the purpose ol public utility undertakings. the maximum annual guarantee being a million sterling and period of payment tr.u years. Sir Doric supported him. THE FRANCHISE. [•‘Tim Timin" Encvin..] I .UN DON, ft; 1 ' !l l-.een light I-, expect,.d oyer the Re. presentation, of the IVnirc's Act. 1918 Amendment Jlill. whe.-lt e-.g-e, op tho second reading u.i 1: • . main proposal is ucp : cL; t hiso on v.'unici: c. c cut'- jvxiht tame term.; utt-u- It !. estimated that this would, mean .'chimp; another ! million, women to Hie register. Most Unionists oppose the Dill am: support Lord Hugh Cecil’s amendment declining after an interval of only six years, to consider further and important enlargements of the Parliamentary franchise. Another l liionist amendment asks for a seel ton .■ l proportional representation, while an amendment tabled by the Duchess of Athe! urges a Conference cl all parties should h ■ called before deciding what further alteration in the franchise is desirable. .AIR HENDERSON’S INDISCRETION COMMON’S DISCUSSION.

[Rei thus Ti-xkurams.j LONDON, Fell. 28. The Commons is again engaged on a debate by Ronald McNeill to draw attention to (lie question of Govern-, incut’s responsibility for the utterances of .Ministers outside of the House. Particular reference was made to Government’s policy ill regard to the' \ ersaillcs Treaty arising from a speech by Arthur Henderson at Rut-lily bye election campaign on I'ebruary 22ml m which he declared the treaty must be revised, if further economic ruin was to he prevented. McNeill asked the Government’s unequivocal views as regards a revision of the 1 reaty. Mr MacDonald replying withoringly recalled that McNeill had made a most j mischievous partisan speech as i lid- >• j Secretary of Foreign Affairs. He j made the speech hoping France would j he Successful when his Government wa« quarrelling with I'ranee as t'-.-.c .i Ruhr. Me charged the opposition with bringing forward a motion with the object of influencing Friday’s byeclcction. Henderson bad apparently been under the impression that as .Minister he could speak' as a privatr citizen. Of course he was wrong. Tim Premier emphasised that members ol ; the Cabinet must speak with seriousness and reserve of their positions. | The speech was not an expression ol I the Government's policy, which the | Premier proceeded to define b\ icieionce to his speech at the opening ol Parliament. Mr MacDonald quoting numerous passages therefrom, recalled that he was awaiting a report from the Reparations Experts’ Committees before completely surveying all Hie problems of tbo foreign situation. Tile Premier clerlc.rocl inquiries on the continent showed that whatever doubt was raised hv Air Henderson’s speech had been removed. He concluded that the Opposition above all has the right to bo generous to follies and holiest mistakes. whatever the degree the blunder might he, in view of the problems which were left to Government to disentangle. Mr Baldwin stated in view of the Premier’s statement the party would not press a division. The motion na* accordingly negatived without, division.