BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1926, Page 3

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

[Australia <fc N.Z. CaLkt Association.]

INSURANCE FUND. LONDON, April I

The House of Commons rose after an all-night sitting lasting nineteen hours, when the Government secured the pass- . ing only of clause one of the Economy Bill, providing for a reduction of the State contributions to the National Health Insurance Fund, instead of passing the first two clauses, which the Government had hoped to pass before Easter. The Opposition contended that Clause One was unjust to the fifteen million peoplo insured under the fund, whose chances of any additional benefits would Ik? curtailed by the reduction of tho contribution. DISARMAMENT. LONDON, April 1. Tho British Government’s disarmament policy was outlined in the House* of Commons by Mr Locker Latnpsoii, who said lie regretted that Russia had declined to participate in the preparatory conference of disarmament. He declared that the British Government was ready to assist whole lieartodly in any international steps leading to a general measure of disarmament. Lord Cecil, ho said, would go to Geneva prepared to urge some definite scheme for disarmament, but it would probably ho more appropriate for some great military power to take at Geneva the initiative with regard to military disarmament. It was unfortunate that similar restrictions did not apply to submarines as were applied to other warships under the Washington Treaty. Tho Government would do its lest to carry further the principles laid down at Washington, and was anxious to cooperate in any general scheme for military limitation. 'The would welcome any scheme for the reduction or limitation of air forces, which would lesulfc in the establishment of a measure of equality between the air forces of Britain and those of any other country.