BRITISH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1926, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS

[Australian «fc N.Z. Cable Association.]

FRENCH AVAR DEBT TO BRITAIN. LONDON, Alareli 11.

In the House of Commons the Hon. AVinston Churchill informed Afr Snowdon that he intended resuming without delay the discussion of the French Debt Settlement, whereon he regarded last year’s agreement with AL Cnillaux as binding. France was issuing treasury bonds for thirty million sterling annually, to meet the interest bill to Britain. This was augmenting the total debt, and seriously increasing the difficulty of the situation, the settlement of which was indispensable. TRADE FACILITIES BILL. LONDON, Alareli 11. The Committee stago of the Trade Facilities Bill was completed at six this morning. The Government applied the closure several times. Several Socialist amendments were rejected. BRITISH ECONOAIIES. LONDON, Afnrcli 11It is estimated between eight and ten millions sterling will be saved in the coming year in terms of the Alisccl la li eons Economy Bill introduced in the House of Commons by Hon AVChurchill. NAVY ESTIMATES. London, Aiareii n. In the House of Commons, Air Serymgeour (Dundee) mowed as follows : “That the House regards the expenditure on the Navy as wasteful and futile.” The motion was negatived bv 190 to 113.

The House then went into committee on the Navy Estimates.

Thereupon Air iLausbury (Lfcihoui) moved to reduce tbe vote by 300,000 men. Incidentally lie expressed tho hope that the rule in the next war would be “The old men first!” Then, said Air Lansbnry, it would bo-certain ther,? would be no war.

Ali- Lansbnry then road a so-called Peace Letter, wherein the signatories pledged themselves to take no part- in the next war.

Viscountess Astor interjected: “Not even the class war!”

There were angry protests when Afr Lansbnry added: “ft is an abominable lie to say that Britain entered tho Great- AVar on lwhalf of Belgium.” Air \Y. C. Bridgman (the First- Lord of the Admiralty) said Air Lansbury’s speech was provocative, but- his arguments were contemptible. The motion was negatived by 18(1 to 19. ECONOMY BILL DISCUSSION. LONDON, Alareli 11. In the House of Commons Afr AV. Churchill said that under tho economy bill, the savings during tbe second year would be slightly less than in tho first year. There would be a yearly saving for the next three years of two and three-quarter millions on tho the health and insurance grants, and there would be a weekly reduction of tbrec-fartliings per capita in the Government’s contribution to tho unemployment insurance. Mr Amery told Major Hore-Belisha (Liberal) that the per capita contributions of the Dominions to defenco were: Australia, 13s 2d; New Zealand, -8s ; Canada, “id : South Africa, Is 9d. The Civil Service estimates total £300,(111,000 compared with £312,954,000 Inst year. The estimates include £50.730,000 lor education, £29,840,003 for old ago pensioners; £03,501,000 for war pensions.

In the days of Auld Lang Syne :v N.Z. grown tobacco made its appearance on the market but failed to get a hold on the smoking public. The leaf was alright, but there was something deficient in tho curing, and tho industry languished* and fizzled out. A much more recent attempt to solve T* tlie problem resulted in the production of the National Tobacco Co.’s brands, now firmly established in the favouiof tho smokers. The secret of this success is said to be due to the new toasting process which has resulted in a most remarkable improvement in the smoking quality. The difference between the toasted and the. lion-toasted product is as wide as a cooked potato differs in taste from a raw potato. Any smoker can easily convince, himself by trying just a few pipes of any of the following brands: Riverhead Gold, very mild; Toasted Navy Cut (Bulldog), of medium strength, and Cut Plug No. 10 for those who prefer a full body.—Advt.