BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1924, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

ICSTRALIAN AND N. 7- CABLE ASSOCIATION. BRITISH FINANCE. LONDON, May 28. The House of Commons read the Finsi nee Bill a second time without a division. Mr P. Snowden (Chancellor) replying to the debate, expressed the opinion that he would lie able next year, by further economies, to finance the Government's .social reforms programme without any heavy increase in taxation. He believed that the present budget provided a sound economic ‘ basis on which next year, the Government would he able to build an oteti more satisfactory structure. ' CRITICAL DIVISION. LONDON, May 28. ' There is much speculation regarding . the result of to-night's critical divi- | sion in the House of Commons. ; The Government is treating the : Consrevativo’s challenge of its unemployment policy as a question of confidence. It is believed that sufficient Liberals 1 will join the Labourites to avert a do- ' feat.' hut, the Liberal Whips fear ahson tecs. i LABOUR’S FREE TRADE ATTITUDE. LONDON, May 27. In the House of Commons, on the ' second' reading of the Finance Bill, Mr {:iliat a Labourite, slid a point that 1 was misunderstood by the Dominions was the fact that the Labourites were : equally as keen as the Conservatives ’ for the closest relations. The Labourites did not believe in protection, which would mean the sacrifice of the interests of the wage earners in Britain, for the benefit of the Dominions. He had ' never found a Dominion Parliament;' ' inn prepared to consider free trade 1 within the Empire. He was not sur--1 prised thereat, because there were ’ countries wherein protection was posl' sihly better than free trade, though, it ' the effects of protection in Britain ’’ were put before the Dominions, they * would see that the Government wore • not actuated by any spirit of hostility 1 to the Dominions in not accepting the preference proposals.