BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1925, Page 1

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

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

LABOUR AND PRFERKXCK. LONDON, June 12.

The strength of the Labour vote on preference, combined with the declared similar views of ten to twelve al>sentces, is regarded by the rest of the Members of Parliament as a matter of significant e. and as a testimony to the influence of the Labor Commonweal!h Croup, numbering ftp. formed during the last Parliament., for the study of Imperial affairs. The .Morning Post.” (Conservative) describes the Labour vote as a “notable triumph for preference.” The newspaper also suggested the Government- might find another claim to allegiance of working men hv making preference depend on the use of British machinery in the industries concerned. The Dominions would 11ms lie encouraged to help the unemployment in Britain, which can make all the refining, drying anil shredding machinery that tin- Dominions want to produce the sugar, tobacco, and dried fruits, which are consumed by the Mother Country.

In the. preference division in the House ol Commons, twenty Labour members voted for preference, compared with five hist year.

The National Union of Manufacturers is taking up tlie preference campaign with the slogan: “Buy British Goods!” Under that heading the Dominions’ foodstuffs are given prominence, ■ The Labour Commoners supporting preference included the front benchers, Messrs J. IT. Thomas, V. Hartshorn, Kennedy.

Other Labour front benchers, ineludin.r Mr MacDonald, were against it.

Most of the Clydesidcrs were absent and intimated they would have voted with the Government.

Mr Lanshnry wired asking io lie paired ill favour of preference. At a recent meeting of the Labour Party 3*2 were anti-preference and 27 in favour of it. The last named group has increased by live in three days. Tlie “Daily Herald” lobbyist says: The indications are that there is a steadily growing minority in the Labour Party favouring a modified form of preference, so long ns it does not involve any increased cos! of foodstuils. and so long as the goods to which the preference is given are produced under fair labour conditions.