BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 October 1924, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE FATEFUL DEBATE

A FORECAST OF IT.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LONDON, October 8.

'the critical debate in the House of Commons to-night is expected to proceed on the following lines. Sir B. Koine, on behalf ol the Conservatives will move that the Government’s recent withdrawal of criminal proceedings against the Editor of the “Workers’ Weekly” is deserving of the (ensure of the House: Sir John Simon, on behalf of the l.ibera's. will move an amendment that a" (Select Committee be appointed consisting of tan Commoners, to investigate and report upon the circumstance leading up to the withdrawal of the proceedings against Ale Campbell. What will happen subsequently, depends upon the torm in which the Speaker puls the motion. The Government has already intimated that the firmest opposition will he offered, both to the motion, and to the amendment-, and that, if either is carried. Mr MacDonald will advise a dissolution.

The official Conservatives are most emphatic that their followers will support tho motion- The lAoyd Georgian I iherals maintain that the amendment will be carried. The Asquithians while arguing that an inquiry is vitally necessary, think that the Government. in the course of the debate, may suggest a compromise, which the Liberals possibly may be able to accept. Even the stiictly party newspapers hesitate this morning to prophesy the result cf the debate. Everything is apparently depending upon the Government's statement of its case, which us yet. lias only partly been heard; and upon the party tactics consequent thereon.

The “Daily Herald” lobby correspondent says: “There is complete confidence in .Labour circles that Sir Pattrick Hastings (Attorney General) is able to make a sound defence adding: “1 am able to state that it will cause mine than one surprise and is likely to disconcert Labour's critics.” The division is expected about 11 o’clock.

COMMUNISM ATTACKED. LONDON October 7. 'I he liveliest phase in the Labour Party's Conlcience was uT.cn a series of votes placed the Communists outside the pale. The vote billowed tbo lead of Mr Alar Donald who declared Communism was Ike product of Tsarism, and of wav 'brutality, and. as such, they would have nothing to do »iui u. Air Jack .Tones, the well-known Commoner, said that they were opposed to any form of dictatorship. Air Jones raised roars of laughter by referring to “the whole half dozen forming tho Communist Party of Britain, which can only collie, in if they abide by the Party’s decisions: but wo will not concetto the right to any Alosccw ites with unpardonable names to came and tyrannise over us ”

LONDON. October 7. The Lab. >iir Conferen.e finally decided. by 1,89-1 JICO to 1.0 19.009 votes tliat ni> member of the Communist Party he eligible lor membership of the Labour Party. GOYKBNAI ENT DEFEATED. BY Hi If TO 198. (Deceived tbi.s day at 10.2-1* a.m.) LONDON, October 9. The Liberal amendment moved by Sir .1. Simon—" That a select committee be appointed to investigate the withdrawal of proceedings against Campbell,” was carried by .Til lo 198.