BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1924, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. BRITISH INSURANCE PROVISION. LONDON, May 20. The House of Commons read a second time without division the Unemployment Insurance Bill, which was introduced by the Coveniment, and which Mr Tom Shaw explained, abolished the gap in the period during which the unemployed have received any benefit. It gives, for the first time, a benefit to boys and girls between the age of I I and 1(> ol four shillings and live '•hillings weekly respectively. It also provides instructional courses for them when unemployed. The Bill increases the men’s and women’s unemployment benefit, and also the allowance to dependant children. It removes the disqualification from benefit for a worker indirectly unemployed through a dispute. Agricultural workers are not embraced by the Bill. He declared Ifie scheme is financially sound.

Opponents of the Unemployment Insurance Bill declared that it extended the dole system, and did not advance unemployment schemes which they expected the (lovernnient had out and dried. They contended that children would he prematurely employed in industry instead of being kept at school. The Conservatives persisted that drastic amendments would he necessary in committee. Questions as to the L’ovornment’s lack of employment plans are likely to be raised in an acute form on Thursdav, when a division is likely.

LABOUR I’Hl'kSS COMMENT. LONDON. May 21. The “Daily Herald” editorially links up the House of Commons unemployment debate with Mr Jimmy Brown’s Edinburgh ceremonial and last night’s Court, it says; “‘We should like to see all Labour people refuse to wear livery. Those kings have no connection with the life of the people. Me should like to see the tedious business of donning fancy costumes and going through a performance which has Install meaning, by the King himself; hut to*suggest that Labour in office has failed because a few Labour men array themselves and look very uncomfortable ill antiquated finery, and because a few Labour women wear feathers in their hair and learn to routtsey in imitation of the idle rich, betrays a ludicrous lack of judgment. Tito sensible line to take is that it can not last long anyway, and meantime. keep attention on ihe things that matter.”