HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 May 1927, Page 3

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

(Australian Press Association it Sun.) LONDON. .May I.

lii the Commons, resumin'!; the debate on tlio Trade Cnions Bifl. Sir J. Simon said; “As to ilio four objects of the liill, outlined by Sir Douglas Hogg, if everything is what he claims for it, the country will find it impossible to resist such objects.” He regretted Labourites had announced the intention to repeal the measure because this preclauded them from amending the hill, demanding Labour's dispassionate (onsideraton. The House must examine the method and language with which the Government sought to carry out praiseworthy intentions. I'rom th(! wording ol the first clans* dealing with general strikes, it was obvious a great deal of complication and misunderstanding was bound to arise. He failed to understand how anyone drafting the clause did not realise that lock-outs should lie included as well as strikes. die whole clause was highly ambiguous and full of vague expressions, which it would he unfair to ask Magistrates to define. In reference to intimidation there was need for a clear definition of the exact rights of picketing, but it would he a grave injury to our own national reputation if we did not remember for ever the reasonable spirit and orderliness of the men themselves, the feature of the general strike! which impressed the whole world. He thought it would have been of immense national advantage il the Labourites bad made a really effective and collective repudiation ol wha.t happened. Instead there had been spasmodic labour contentions that last year's stoppage was not a general strike and that anyhow a general strike was legal, ft was as certain as the sun in the heavens that if tin British people thought under the pr<

sent law it was legitimate lor employers or workers to combine In substitute the will of some outside the committee for the will of parliament, they should insist on the law being altered. It would have been far better if the Government had introduced a. one clause hill declaring in the ximplots terms that combinations of either employers or workers to coerce government or parliament, constituted an unlawful conspiracy.

British WAR DEBTS. LONDON. May I

Britain has addressed to the ( nited States Government a long note concerning war debts, consisting ot a lull reply to a recent utterance by Mr Mellon (Secretary to the United States' Treasury) that "alter 1927 Britain will receive from her debtors substantially more than she will pay I'nited States." This is emphatically denied. On the contrary, it is pointed out, even il the full Dawes’ payments continue to he received for another sixty years, since tlie present value Britain receives from reparation and iotor-Allied debt will boless than the payments Britain is obliged to make to United States at present of interest and discount. The note emphasises that in no circumstances does Britain receive from reparations and inter-Allied war debts combined more than she pays the United States, and suggests .Mr .Mellon mis-

calculated, firstly, because lie apparently quotes the total receipts of the British Empire from the Dawes annuities. which (the note points out) include receipts in respect to occupation, which represent a portal reimbursement of expenditure by the British. Furthermore British reparation receipts must he distributed between Britain and other parts of the Empire; secondly, because he includes in Britain’s receipts from

France the same as comprising a private transaction lift ween Banks of France anil England, whence not a penny accrues to the British Treasury. The note concludes expressing ‘hi desire to maintain and promote a frirtndlv understanding between two great English sneaking nations.” but views with great misgiving the diversion of opinion and estimate cf sentiment which is growing tip as regards tlios" war obligations. Tt. trusts t lilted States Government will take steps to remove the unfortunate impression created by the issue of Ah' Mellon's statement.