BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1924, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

[fjY TELEGIIAPn —MR I’RESS ASSOCIATION'.] THE ADVERSE VOTE. LONDON, April 7. The “Daily Express” says: No London theatre could stage a scene to compare with the crowded and excited House of Commons after the division of the anti-Kvictions Bill. The back bench Socialists blared like a thousand “Loud speakers.” It was obvious from the beginning that a crash was bound to come. Mr Pringle, the Liberal, who served the Government last week, spoke for half an hour, pointing out that the amended clause did not instruct the local authorities to pay rent for the unemployed who are threatened with eviction, nor did it instruct the County Court to withhold the eviction orders, if relief were obtained. Mr MacDonald’s speech was an entire failure. It was prosy, indefinite, and entirely non-committal. Interruption roared down on him o\ci> minute. He spun meaningless words like a spider spinning a web, whereupon tho impatience of the House in-

creased.” Air Baldwin' declared that Air AlacDonald’s explanations only made the tenebrosity of the, position more profound. Air Asquith said that only the Jolmsonion phrase ‘inspissated gloom’ could describe the members’ mental condition incliuTmg the Treasury Benches. “The Liberals were divided into three camps. Forty including -Messrs Asquith and Lloyd George, Sir J. Simon, Messrs AlacNamara, AlaePherson, Grigg anil Afasterman did not vote, About forty voted with the Government and twenty-five went against the Government. The unionists voted unitedly against tho Government.” The “Daily Express” continues “The Cabinet is undecided as to what it will do. The latest lobby forecasts do not indicate that the Bill will he reintroduced before Easter. ANOTHER ADVERSE DECISION. LONDON, April 7. Tn the House of Commons the Government were again defeated hv 208 to 170 votes on a proposal to reverse the late Conservative Government’s decision regarding the adjustment of certain war charges. THE GOVERNMENT’S DEFEAT. PREMIER CONSIDERING POSITION. (“Sydney Sun” Cables). R»eoived this dav st 8 a.m.) LONDON, April 7. Details of the debate on the Rents Bill show that Air Pringle resumed the debate. Ah Neville Chamberlain tabled an amendment rejecting the Bill which unjustly threw the burden of unemployment upon one particular section of the community. It also seriously prejudiced the building of houses for the workers. Air AfaoDonald said the Government regarded the Bill as ail emergency measure, because evictions were alarmingly increasing. The Government felt that the unemployed men. many of whom were ex-fighters, should not be turned out of their lioinos.

The Hon Wheatley explained the Government substituted clause compelled the Court- to enquire whether Ilie unemployed were threatened with eviction, and they submitted bis case to the local poor law authorities, giving them the opportunity of faying

his rent. Mr J. 11. Thomas later announced his refusal to withdraw tiro clause, anil the amendment- was carried amid opposition cheers. When the excitement over the Government defeat subsided, Air Baldwin moved to report progress to give Mr AlaoDonuhl ail opportunity of explaining what lie proposed to do. Air MacDonald said that in bis first speech as Prime Minister lie contemplated such a situation. He sUiraested there should be some '•ensultalnn among the parlies to decide how to get the.Bill through. The Government meantime would consider the position and make a statement to-murx