BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1927, Page 3

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

[Australian <fc N.Z. Cable Association.] COMMONS DEBATE. LONDON, Feh. 18. Aji angry debate in the House of Commons resulted from Air Kirkwood and other Labour members protesting agai list) the .£,00(1 vote r> cover the expenses of the Duke of York 1 .- tour while the nneniploymeut is rile in Britain. When Mr .McNeill moved a vote tor seven thousand sterling as a grant in aid of the Duke and Duchess of York's mission, lie expressed the hope that it would he incepted oiianiniou-lv. Mr KI a| (Labour) on behalf of the wi r' < made an emphatic protest. That p ■■• ihe Empire he said, which had is -? ■ ' the invitation should pay all the exp I le objected to England paying h r the sending of their Royal Uglinesses on a “joy ride." Mr Kirkwood said that when he raised the question on the Prince of Wales's “jov ride’’ to Smith America he was told the visit was for the benefit of trade and for tin- cementing of

Ihe British Empire. Had the Empire's trade henehi ted ? The British Government had just- given a large meat contract to the Argentina, one which fornierlv went to .Australia. AVas that, he asked, cementing the Empire.

Tho recent report, said Mr Kirkwood

■suggested reduction of the unemployment. insurance payments to six hundred thousand workers. Yet the rnutitrv could alford seven ihonsand pounds sterling to send tin- Duke and Diuhe-s of York to the ends of the earth. “And,” de( hired Air Kirkood, “it

doesn’t matter one iota to the welfar of the country ll they never return!

Amidst an uproar, the Chairman of the (’oniinitfee. Captain Fiixrnv. said:

Air Kirkwood continued: “f have taken the highest opinion, and I have been informed that I can use Ihe language which I have just used." Captain Eitzrov: “I am the authorin' hire! I cannot allow you to use discourteous language to the Royal family.”

Air Kirkwood said that he desired to protest against, anyone in Britain gelling thousands sterling every wool: when the workers got tinder three pounds. He had iu-1 come trout Plymouth where women had asked him to protest, vigorously against, this expenditure.

The Duke and Duchess, he said, had plenty of their own money. They paid no income lax.

“Thus,” he continued, “when ii is a question of taxation, they are placed in a special compartment, beyond ordinary mortals, but, when it is a ease of expenditure, the Government puts them as beggars, and il comes and begs the House of Commons to vole them seven thousand !’’ “When their Highnesses got married. I protested in Ibis House. ' Mr Kirkwood continued, “because (trior to their marriage, the Duke oi T ork received ten thousand a year, hut alter the marriage this was im reused hy another fifteen ihonsand!” .Mr R. R. Wilson (C'oumwvil ive) resented the criticisms of Their Highnesses. who. he said, were undertaking the duty of ambassadors o! ihe Empire and were earning the gratitude, esteem and affection of every decent-minded man and woman in Britain. Afr Kirkivoml: “That means we are not decent minded!"

Doctor Walts (Conservative) ic-’i-tied to beneficial results Imm tin* Prince of Wales’ tour, and said he expected similar results to follow the Duke and Duchess oi \ (irks visit. Air llardie (Labour) thought it would have been heller to have sent out a delegation representing all aspects of the Italian, and not mere tiglire heads.

’.'sir Ah PmiAua.ll (Conservative) I bought they could not make a heller investment than Ibis moiicv when the House was asked for it if there were any advantage in their visit. Ihmr Highnesses should have gone in the ordinary way in a passenger steamer, rind not in a special ship. Air fseurr (Labour) said he (In.l not think this: v. is the time for this ''Kit in view of the distress m I<> t where there are a million and a halt people unemployed.

THE ROY A I Y'SIT. LONDON, Feb. 18. In the Commons. Air Shield said lie believed tin- tour of the \°rks invoßei a considerable amount, ol per*'>im " - convenience to the Duke and Due he:-. and it. was bv no means a mv rule When a division was edlcd. I. • •man was the only dissentient, hut h< ,|jd not nersist. and the vote was .allied without, division.