A COMMONS DEBATE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1927, Page 1

A COMMONS DEBATE

SOCIALISTS AND LADY ASTOR. ‘ YOUR ARE NOT TALKING TO A HORSE.’ LONDON, November 10. What Sir Kingsley Wood described as a really tragic- story was unfolded in the House to-day when he presented a supplementary estimate of £3,260,000, to cover the cost of loans to boards of guardians necessitated by the coal stoppage. Tlhis represents only u part of the huge sum that has been paid in outrelief to the dependents of miners, and the Minister nailed one Socialist lie to the mast when he asserted that in fact miners’ children had been better fed than they were when their fathers were at work.

Appropriately Mr Dixey (C., Ponritlli) chose this day to introduce a private member’s Bill designed to prevent any strike or lock-out until there has been a reference to arbitration by a properly constituted court. Mr Hnyday (Soe., Nottingham)- opposed ilie Bill, but the House gave Mr Dixey leave to introduce is by 135 votes to 82.

Then came Sir Kingsley “Wood, who said that in some areas there are also considerable arrears of rates, which the boards will certainly have great difficulty in collecting.

During the six months ended September .30, 1925, the amount distributed in out-relief was £7,000,000. During the corresponding period this year it was £1.3,000,000. Local authorities had had to pay £25,000 a week since the stoppage started for ihc relief of the miners’ dependents, and there had been an increase since May in the number ill receipt of out-relief of 1,152,592, corresponding to an increased cost of £5,800,000 in the areas directly affected by the dispute. Mr G. Lnnsbiiry (Soe., Bow and Bromley) said that the statement that miners’ children wore better fed during the stoppage than when their fathers were at work was a condemnation of the policy of the- Government in forcing ilie men back to work at lower wages, and lie was elaborating this argument when lie was interrupted by Lady Aslor, and be retorted that Lady Astor would he showing more respect to the House if she could learn to hold her tongue.

LADY ASTOR’S RETORT. Later Lady Astor had a passage at arms with another woman member, Miss Ellen Wilkinson (Soe.. Middlesbrough), who supported a motion by Miss Lawrence (Soc., East Ham) to reduce the estimate by £IOO, on the general ground that the relief of unemployment due to exceptional causes should he a national and not a local charge. M iss Wilkinson spoke of the sufferings of miners’ wives and children, and Lady Astor replied that when Mr Dixey had introduced his Bill earlier in the day Mi ss Wilkinson had exclaimed,

“Wo don’t want pence.” “T said that of the coal owners.” returned Miss Wilkinson, angrily accusing Lady Aster of misrepresenting her. “In any ease,” retorted Lady Astor, “you belong to the section of the Socialist Party who really are not out for peace in industry. A’ou don’t go to the pulpits to preach goodwill, but you go on parade to preach the class war.” AL- Buchanan (Soc.. Gorbnls) invited Lady Aster to go to his constituency, where he would put her in touch with people who wore starving. Lady Astor: I cannot go to his division; T have a division of my own. T would like the names and addresses of the people ho are starving. There were a number of Ministerial interruptions during Mr Buchanan’s following remarks, and turning lo one Conservative member he shouted across the floor of tho House; “T-Te is a colonel in the Army, but ho is not my colonel.” Lady Astor; A’on wore never in the Army.

Mr Noil McLean (Soc., Goran): Neither was your husband—so he quiet. Afr Westwood (Soc., Peebles) ; He (Air Buchanan) was not born in America either. A moment later Afr AVestwood remarked; '“Don’t be nasty though, Nancy.” “YAH, YAH YAH.” “Y>ali, Yah. Yah,” shouted Afr Buchanan, when Lady Astor again pressed him to give the names and addresses of tho people ho had alleged were starving. “Answer tho question,” demanded n chorus of voices from the Government benches. “I am -answering it in the way 1 am answering it,” said Air Buchanan. “shut vour mouth and listen to me.” Captain Fitzßoy (Tleputy chairman or committees) appealed for order. Air Buchanan: Even I -am guilty ot the worst kind of interruption, and T never ‘Tumble at these who intenupt me. The only thing T object to is the noble lady not being able to take her medicine. Lady Astor: AYcll, answer tbe question. ~ Air Buchanan : Just you allow .no. and remember you are not talking to a horse at Newmarket now. (Cries ot “Order.”) . ~ q AD- Buchanan, continuing, recited tho ease of a man with a wife and three children who had 29s a week and paid 5s 3d for coal and Gs for rent. Ask Yourself if you can feed them, even you. and you are clever he said to Lad’v Astor. Tad Vstor: Send me the names. Air Neville Chamberlain, Alinister of Health, concluding the debate, salt that nothing astonished lum more than the allegation that Die Dmistry of Health bad been responsible foi a Policy of starvation. Looking at a»l the facts, lie was of opinion that the coal stoppage had been financed ■•> the hoards of guardians. The estimate was approved uy votes to 81. and the House adjourned at 10.48. —-