HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1924, Page 3

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

A PI,FA KOI! PREFERENCE. (“Sydney Sun” Cables). ilfeeeived this day at a.m.) I.OXDOX, May 1. Sir Hubert Horne, during the llu I eat debate, speaking on preference, said it had been hoped that as a res'ilt of the war news an enlarged view of the Kmpire would he taken out of the dead hand or Cohdcn, which apparently gripped sonic memhers. Sir Hubert Horne appealed to the {iovernment to realise what Hritvin owed to the Kmpire in the way of trade. Out of L00H,000,000 worth or manufactured goods exported in 1022, countries within the Kmpire took £201,000,000, this hoing •1-1.2 per cent. A sparsely populated country like Australia bought more British goods than 110,000,00!) people in the United States, sixty-five millions in Germany, and forty millions in h ranee. Was not Unit market'worth considering?

HKPI.Y TO sill H. lIOHXK. ilfecnived this dav at 0.2. j a.m.) I.OXDOX, May 1. In the Commons Sir H. Horne s dashiiiK attack brought Mr Thomas to his feet, fie denied this to he an electioneering Imd-jet, savin-; we have more budgets to come. I his was only the first instalment, hut it proves that labour in uilicc is not vindictive, hut is prepared to he fair and distribute the surplus equitably and justly. Deferring to the charge that the Labour Party was Holding the Dominions, he retorted, it is true you have often used the Union .lack as a cloak to cover many sins, hut we shall not allow it to go forth that you, or any party, are the only people interested in the maintennnee of our -.rent Umpire. During the last ten weeks there have been four dissolutions ol Parliaments in the Kmpire and as a result, two new Labour Governments came into I lOinK. lie depreciated the resolutions of the Imperial Conference tiein*; approached in a party, spirit. It had been clearly understood that all resolutions were subject to thd ratification of the 'various Parliaments. While the representation at the Imperial Conference was routined to one party, these dillieull ies were hound t“ arise. It would lie the policy of the .Labour Government to try to devise a scheme whereby all the parties would he represented.

QUESTIONS AND REPLY

LONDON, May I

In tlio Commons, John Harris called attention to tlio American Bill authorising tlie construction of eight oeiv cruisers, eticli often thousand tons. He suggested that Government ' approach the°l'nited States in regard to the possihility of another naval conference. Mr MacDonald, in reply, referred to a statement bv Air Coolidge on --ml. April that it appeared impracticable at the present to attempt anv further limitations of armaments. He was glad to find Air Coolidge. had agreed with tlie attitude the Labour (lovcrnmeiit had always taken up. that before discussing limitations of armaments we must first remove some of the difficulties of the political situation in Europe. LIBERALS ATTITUDE. LONDON. -May Ist. The Budget Ims changed the whole outlook on Liherid-T.al.our relations, consequently the Liberal Party meeting presided over by Alt- Asquith and which had been expected to yield a declaration of war against Labour, resulted in a. general agreement to support the Budget. Some disappointment was expressed at the inadequate provision for social reforms, hut Air Asquith stated the free trade budget, vindicated the Liberals action in ejecting the Conservative.