BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1927, Page 3

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

(Australian it X./. Cable Association.) QUESTIONS IN COMMONS. (Received this day at 9..10 a.in.) LONDON, duly 11. Replying to a question in the Commons its to what makes of typewriters were used in the Dominions .Marketing Board and Overseas Settlement Offices, Hon Amerv said mostly foreign. He would expect the Marketing Office to have British machines in accordance with the policy, and would endeavour to install British when the time arrived.

Replying to another question. Hon Amerv said no separate figures were kept of Scottish migration to the D>minions. The total British expenditure under the Empire Settlement Act for 62,303 migrants to Canada, Australia and New Zealand during the year ended .‘list. March was £1.297.499 of which Britain provided £701.121 and the Dominions £.‘>90,378. including £3-30,781 from Australia for 31.038 migrants, £102,833 from Canada for 19,373 migrants and £130,701 from New Zealand for 11.292 migrants.

Hon Amere stilted experimental Empire broadcasting had not readied the statje when they could ii.sk the Colonies to contribnte towards the cost, though he did not imagine they would he reluctant to share the expense. Asked whether the Government would appoint a committee to investigate the meat trade, in view of the report that eight continental meat firms were entering into an agreement whereby an increase in the price of chided meat was likely, Sir Burton Chadwick (Under-Seeretarv for Trade) said the Food Council was at present enquiring into retail prices of all meat, and would no doubt consider any increase. The question of niiti-Cniubiue legislation did not arise.

IN THE COMMONS. LONDON, July 11

In the Commons. Mr Herbert Williams asked whether it was the practice of Colonial Office officials to serve for a period in an administrative post overseas, and periodically visit parts of the Umpire wherewith their work was concerned.

lion. Amerv said the sending ol

officials for service overseas as a general practice presents serious administrative difficulties, hut arrangements were reeeriti'y made for two officers lo he attached to the stall's of the Covernos of Ceylon and Afagara for about two or three years respectively. He hoped to make similar overseas arrangements for future appointments to the administrative grade of the Colonial Office, now subject to the acceptance of liability to service overseas for a minimum period of a year. He was convinced of the value of suggested periodical visits. Several had occurred in the past few years and others were coining in the near future.

BRITISH POLICY. (Received this day at 10.25 a.m.T LONDON. July fl

7n ilie Commons, .Air Ponsoiiliy moot'd to reduce the Foreign Office vote to discuss conditions in Europe. Tie asked what policy was followed in regard to the evacuation of TMiineland. Wore we merely copying what France said on urging France to come to a decision? Would we affront America with a gesture outlawing war on lines of the Franco-American proposals? He would like an explanation. He described the breaking off of Russian, relations as elephantine diplomacy, unsettling Eastern Europe. The League of Nations was relegated to a hack seat and was dying of inanition. It was a mere screen for work in hotel drawing rooms. There was little prospect of disarmament. Tf sincere the nations would enforce on themselves the conditions enforced on. Germany. Sir A. Chamberlain said ladies of Victorian age ere not unaccustomed to saying they had enjoyed a. good cry. It seemed to him that .Mr Ponsoiiliy. who had Victorian features had been indulging in that operation. There was no secet about the British policy, and no commitments unknown to the House. Anything of the kind was submitted to the House. British statesmen aimed to reconcile all. enemies and settle differences without resource to force. They had done their liest, not without success to remove secrecy. Tf Ponsoiiliy, instead of reading the o r,respondent'© tittle tattle would attend the League meetings he would discover it was stronger than three years ago. Questions Inot discussable then, are now taken Up in a spirit of friendly co-operation.

LONDON. July IT. “ As our repi’y to Sir A. Chamberlain indicated, funds are being collected to build an air flotilla and clubs and associations are being organized to conduct meetings for shooting competitions and military studies for defence work, which started yesterday,” says Rykott. who adds that this is only the beginning of persistent work to assure the country’s defence.

LONDON. July 11. Sir A. Chamberlain alluding to Mr Ponsonby’s statement that be would like an explanation of the singling out of Italy for special favour and courtesies, begged the House not to suspect him of a sinister meaning in his innocent call on Mussolini while tak-

ing a holiday in the Mediterranean

Had there been regular meetings of responsible statesmen before the war, tilings might have been different. He asked the House to reflect if the suggestion justified that the League of Nations be relegated to second rate work. The Council was working with ever increasing authority. Proposals which the British delegation were prepared to lay before the Conference would result in a reduction of our naval expenditure over future years of nearly fifty millions sterling. There was no suggestion that United States wlas not entitled to a parity and class of vessels without criticism from Britain.