BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1927, Page 3

BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

[Australian & N.Z. Cablo Association.] IN THE COMMONS. LONDON. April 13. In the Commons Sir A. Chamberlain told Air Day (Labour member for Southwark) that British military forces in China at present consisted of sixteen infantry battalions, ivilh the necessary auxiliary troops, also fourteen thousand in the navy. Four additional battalions were en rouflo to China. Air Baldwin replying to -Mr Pethiek Lawrence (Labour, West- Leith) announced the Ministry next session would introduce a Bill enfranchising women at the age of 21. Resuming the Budget debate. Sir Robert Horne said Labour was disappointed because it had not fonn.d a miserable Chancellor in a white sheet. Ho sympathised with Labour and congratulated Air Churchill on the series of clever contrivances by means of which he had succeeded in climbing the precipice. At the same time a burden of 871 millions was an impossible one for this country to bear and no one could look to the future with any hope, if that figure were to become the normal expenditure. Air Lloyd George said he was disappointed with Sir K. Horne's speech. Afr Churchill stood in danger of going down i|i history as “Afr Deficit.” There was no apparent provision to meet expenditure iu connection with China. It was a great mistake not to Budget in anticipation of the troops remaining in China for some time. The new taxes were feeble, miserable and annoying. Thirty millions had been described as windfalls, but they were tree shakings, not windfalls. There were one or two apples not ripe. Anyhow they did not come out of Afr Church ill’s orchard. Churchill apparently believed with Stevenson that it was hitter to travel hopefully than to arrive. He had aimed at economy, hut the sturdy figure of the First Lord of the Admiralty stood in front of the target, causing him to miss his aim. The abolition of three departments was a first class mistake. Real economy lay in the direction of armaments. The Minister was sent to Geneva to ask others to reduce armaments while we were increasing the navy. AA'c were accused of hypocrisy and there was a certain element of truth in this. Britain was confronting nations •which were without our burdens. Hence the Budget was misleading, irrelevant and unhelpful.