BRITISH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1926, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS

[Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.]

IN THE. COMMONS. LONDON. March IG. The House of Commons read a second time the Imperial War Graves Fund Bill, providing that Britain contribute eighty-two pier cent, of five millions 'and the Dominions eighteen pier cent, LONDON, March HI. In the House of Commons Mr Winston Churchill estimated the total expenditure for which he must provide in the budget at (.'799,500.000 sterling 111 order to keep) down the expenditure to £799,000,000 he mentioned that £31,000.000 must he economised in national administration in order to counter balance tho unavoidable new expenditure of that, amount.

Mr Churchill said that the thirtyone millions savings would include ten millions on tlie lighting services, nine and a-half millions as the result of the economy bill, seventy-five thousand would be saved on the Colonial services. and three hundred thousand on Palestine and Iraq.

QUESTION IN COMMONS. LONDON, March Hi. Mr Ramsay MacDonald (Labour Premier in the late Government) asked for an explanation of the ropiorts and representations to the protocol powers, towards China, which might involve military operations within two days. Mr Baldwin replied that, his Majesty's representative at Peking was instructed to take no action except to co-operate with the other treaty powers ; also that armed force should univ he used a.s a last, resort and a.s a. safeguard to the security of foreigners in the areas affected.

ECONOMY BILL. LONDON. March 1C

in (he Commons the Hon Winston Churchill (Chancellor of the Exchequer) moved the second reading of tho Economy Bill, dealing with the estimates generally, and the question of why no further economies were emphasised.

Air Churchill said the actual in•renses in defence and administrative ;osts since pre war days were 70 per ■cut., which almost approximated tho lepneciation of the pound’s purchasing lower.

Mr I’hillio Snowdon fCliaueellor of the Exchequer in Mr .MacDonald’s Labour Cabinet) moved the rejection of the Bid. Be said that ho had not Air Churchill’s knowledge or command of the English, language, but Air Clilire'll ill’s knowledge was no excuse for his ignorance of the elementary provisions of national finance. Mr Churohill could H?st serve'his own and his country’s interest, by admitting that he could not discharge his job.