BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1924, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

EMPIRE Win EI,ESS CHAIN. DOMINIONS COMMENT HAS EFFECT. ("Sydney Sun" Cables). (Received this day at 11.25 n.m.) LONDON, May 7. It is understood that when the Cabinet Committee’e wireless report is

published at the end of the week, it will reveal the Government has decided, as a matter of urgency, to create an Empire wireless chain.

It is stated, on high authority, that the Cabinet has found a solution of the long-standing difficulties between the post Office and the Marconi Company, entiling work to begin without delay on the construction of stations throughout the Empire. The commercial necessity for speedier communication was not the sole factor in influent ine the Government's decision, as the out

spoken comments of the Dominion newspapers regardin'; the Government s attitude regarding preference and Singapore also had an effect and .Mr .MacDonald was anxious for warmer and tnot'o cordial lolations.

preference ON SUGAR. DEBATE IN COMMONS. (Received this dav at 11.25 n.m.) LONDON. May 7.

fn the Commons, Air Mitchell Thomson, speaking to his amendment pointed out that the effect of the Budget proposals would he to reduce the preference proposals to Is 11 Id per hundredweight. Tie contended that preference in the past had resulted in an increase of Empire sugar production from eighteen per cent of the world's production in 191 Dto twenty-two last year. Ho compared the preference of .'ids lOd per ton given by Britain to the Last lollies with £lO os given by the United States to Porto Rico. Il<‘ maintained that the expansion of the Empire sugar industry was essential politically, fiscally, commercially ami Imperially.

Mr \V. Ornisby Gore, in secondin';, maintained that the Colonial Secretary had failed lamentably in not impressing on the Chancellor consideration of West Indies and Mauritius interests which demanded the stabilisation of preference. The worst feature of the Budget was the repudiation of the responsibilities to the tropical Crown Colonies.

Mr Philip Snowden (Chancellor) opposing said the total Empire production had only increased ten per cent in the three years since prclerenco began to operate, while the West Indies for which a special plea was entered, it had actually decreased. Preference sinip.y meant a subsidy from the British taxpayer to the West Indies planters. It liail disastrously reduced production. and the export of sugar by twenty-five per cent.

Lord Percy, on behalf of the Opposition, protested against the Government acting contrary to their pledge to take a free vote on the Economic. Conferoncers resolution. Mr Grnlinm replied tin* pledge only concerned the forthcoming debate on tlie imperial Conference. The sugar resolution was confirmed unaltered.

the airship PROPOSALS. (Received tlis dav at I!.L> ».m) LONDON, May It is learned that the Cabinet committee on airships approves of the construction, and will probably recommend the Government to hear all expenses in. establishing a scheme over an experimental period ol two >"•"*• Thereafter it is likely to place ai the disposal of private companies the whole data relating to the results achieved. ■Jt is pointed out that the fate ol tie Kurnev scheme is still > !l Hie balance. It is not improbable that a majority of the House of Commons, in view of the fact that four committees have hitherto favoured it, will support the .adoption of the Burney proposals.

AMRITSAR ENQUIRY

(Received this day at lU> LONDON. May .

(j'Dwver. cross examined, evidenced that 2AS were Hogged in connection with the disturhaiices at Amritsar. The men were tied to a 'erne ani whipped "'fh cane, "Imo was mild compared to the eat. N.motiu.es llie natives asked to he rnned instead of lined. Replying to a C|ttestioti whether a native‘was Hogged hecat.se he tailed Lo salaam an oliicer, O'Dwyer replied :- .•The re,.our was flying round the cniintrv that Hritisl, rule had disappeared. One way to disprove this "as to require people to show traditional forms of respect. I disapproved ol the salaaming order.'