BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1925, Page 2

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

[Reuters Telegrams.j QUESTIONS IN COMMONS. LONDON, Eeb. 2d. Jn the House of Commons, Viscount Sandon asked whether the Foreign Secretary, Hon Austen Chamberlain, would institute any negotiations in order to meet the criticisms from Australia and .New Zealand ill regard to the situation of the New Hebrides. Mr Cliamlierlain replied that the matter was being considered. Mr Trevelayan Thomson asked the reason of the delay in the publication of the report of the Inter-Allied Military Control Commission and Mr Chamberlain replied that there had been no delay. The Inter-Allied Military Committee of Versailles only received the report on the 18th. Teh. and it was the duty of the committee to consider the report and submit its own comments thereon to the Ambassadors’ Conference which would then report to the Allied Governments. The question of publication must ho decided by the Allies in consultation. The Allids’ object hiust be the fulfilment of those provisions of the Treaty ot Versailles whereon, by the terms of the Treaty itself, a reduction of the period of occupation ol the Cologne area was made to depend. Therefore it would appear the question of expedience for publication would depend whether or not the publication would facilitate satisfactorily the Allies’ just demands, and, consequently, tlu' evacuation of the Cologne area.

GOVERNMENT 1)11.1. DEFEATED LONDON, February 26.

In the House of Commons there were Labour cries “Resign I” on the defeat In- 18J votes to ISO. of the Private Elect) icity Bill promoted by the County of London Electrical Supply Company. which the Minister for Transport supported. Mr Barnes moved its rejection on the ground that it belonged to ti group of hills introduied for the purpose of forestalling a. national scheme of electricity supply. A number ol members, including Sii L. Worthington Evans, attacked V Bill. LONDON. February 25. The defeat of the Electricity Bil in the Horse of Commons was entirely unexpected. Opposition developed strongly, and a number of Conservatives finally joined the Labourites in the division lobby. Sir Worthington Evans argued that the Bill did not put the company concerned under any obligation to generate or distribute electricity to any local. authority. It contained no obligation to fulfil a public duty. Viscount Klvcden (Conservative) Southend, opposed the measure on the ground that it would establish a monopoly for all time, without any definition of profits. The “Daily Herald’’ comments: ‘The seemingly impossible has happened. Capitalism has snflered a ileleat in a predominantly capitalist Parliament.” The Conservative papers attribute the defeat of the Bill to a statement made during, the debate that the company was not on the King’s roll of those giving pre fere nee to ex-service men. to which a reply was made that the company would enroll. It was affirmed by a number of conservative members that they would oppose any Bill brought forward in similar circumstances.