BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1925, Page 1

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

[Australia A" N.Z. Cable Association.]

DEATH IN COMMON'S. LONDON, June If. A Commoner, .lames Wignall (Labour .Member) collapsed in the corridor of the House of Commons presumably in consequence of the heat. He was attended to by medical members of the Commons, after which he was sent to the hospital iu the House ambulance. Inn he died. SPEECH !JLFO!’L HIS DEATH. LONDON. June 11. Mr .1. Wignall. Labour M.P. who died suddenly in the House of Commons. had just left a meeting of Labour M. P.s when he was seized with illness. lie spoke strongly in favour of an Imperial Preference on foodstuffs, arguing that in i lie development of tlie Dominions, fruitgrowing would be ii factor in increasing emigration and cmisequonl ly in reducing the unemployment. The subject provoked a lively discussion and it was finally decided t ; leave tins matter to a free vote oi Hie Party, when it conies up in (he House of Commons. Tlie “Daily Express" says that ’< '•lapirity of tlie Labourites lavourod a tariff preference on foodstuffs, on the ground that it vnufd lie a step to-

1N THE COMMONS. LONDON. June 10. in the Commons, Mr Churchill opposing u Labourite proposal for penny reduction in tea duty, pointed out it had been thrice reduced since the war ami was now lower than before the war. Tea was being increasingly drunk and the proposal which would cost £1.800.000 sterling was rejected by 274 to I I!) votes. The Liberals invited Atr Churchill to defend Imperial preference in regard to tlie tea- duty, lie retorted that when the Dominions came to aid the Mother Country in war lime, it created a universal feeling in favour of Imperial preference. The original Joseph Chamberlain scheme was biased fundamentally on the taxtiou of bread and meat. Long years of political warfare had proved that was unacceptable, hut a. considerable proportion of all parties endorsed the principle of drawing the Empire together by preferences which had not. affected the cost of living. Eighty-four per rent- of Britain’s tea was produced in the Empire, therefore preference contributed to cheapening the article the masses consumed. Mr Churchill to Sir .1. Simon, as to whether apart from Mr Baldwin’s pledge lie was prepared to introduce a. general tariff, said lie was opposed thereto and fought the general tariff at 102:1 election, hut it- is because the principle of a general tariff is no longer part of the party's programme that he considered lie was perfectly free to examine these subsidiary propositions without, raising the issues of protection or free, trade. Mr Snowden: “Nobody understanding! the la'iigimg!: could cay the present Protectionist proposal did not contravene Mr Baldwin’s pledge. Labour regarded the duties as only contemporarv with the Government's lifetime." He wondered hoiv long Government would suffer indignity by refusing to challenge an election on this clear is-

Tl IK SII.K IM IT IKS. LONDON, .him- Hi. The House. of Commons, by suhstaut i:i niiijoril ies, rejected a nmul>t>r of iiuiciidmciils, mostly designed lo delay tho operation of Iho silk I.;:;. Mr Oimi'ohiil declared ho was nmvini od those iliti it's would considerably stimulate Hit* lii'ii is! i natural silk intlnslry duties. They won* adopted by •jiio to i:ii.

STATEMENT BV Mlt BALDWIN. LONDON. Juno 11. To the Commons Mr Bahlvriii an nounooi! thai Movermneut laid deed I to adopt in principle, tho Kood OuinlnissionV rofomnioiidatioiis and estah--1 is]i fond control, and lo carry iir il.o plan. iill illf.l in llie Ci.nimi»ionV report. T:i regard B; Dniiiinion irilio.sin of till* pi'opn.-i d security | :i"I, it is i.ndorstr'd tin- Dominions were kept, ful lv informed of tho j rogresa ol noontiations. fndouhtoilly their apjiroval and agreement was re'-ohod. Imt at pros'* it Ihoiv is no aons'inonl uhi.h can la* sul.niittod In lliom. All that had beet dun ■ i far had hcoii to indicate tiio responsibility Britain is prepared to undertake. ii ' ill Ito possible. ultlnmp.li such ea.ii-e is not regarded as probable for Britain to sign an agr"'i ill*ll l without. adhesion to tho llonriiions, binding only Britain, licit< sh diploinntie circles einpliasiso iho prop hi*d part guaranteed Mermany apa’ i.t aggression. equally w ith France. Qt'K-iTION IN ('(Bi.MdNs. LONDON. Jim" 10. fn the Mouse of (’ominous, replying to quest inns. !!i. Mon. It. McNeil (Fnder Secretary of Foreign Affairs) stated the Allies would order the evacuation of the Cologne '/.one as soon as derinany had carried mil M'e military reiiiiireinents. Mr Baldwin emphasise,l iliai no s.ccuriiv pact had yet hcen signed, nor would one he concluded until the Mouse swas ennhlod fully lo ‘h-seiiss the present position. which wa- teal the Anglo-French Oovornnients. after consideiinp; the Merman prn|insal-. wore completely agreed on eertain Basic principles for a pact Udween the Allies interested in the llliineliil'd and derinany. on a footing of equality. It was expected that Belgium a,,..! Italy would adhere to such a paci. The Premier confirmed the .statement that the contemplated settlement was strictly a Bilateral otic. It was proposed lo obtain French sanction to rnminunirnte tile text to l’ailiament, immediately a reply was sent to Berlin.