HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1927, Page 3

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

BRITISH COAL CRISIS. LONDON, Nov. 22. ! In the Commons, 111- Baldwin told - Lord Cavendish-Bentinck that the Government had given attention to alt aspects of the mining problem. It was impossible, in the course of an answer to a question, to deal with members’ suggestions for increasing the schoolleaving age in colliery districts, superannuation of miners at sixty, and improvement in housing. Lord Cavendish-Bentinck : Have you given attention to Sir Alfred Mood’s declaration in the press? The Government can no longer remain aloof and indifferent to the serious crisis in the

mining industry. M.r Baldwin did not rise, and Labourites -shouted: “ Answer, answer f” Sir Archibald Sinclair: Will Mr Bald win answer in the course of the debate ? Mr Tom Williams: Don’t ask nueslions. Show that it is the Govern- ■ merit's duty to attempt to solve the F problem. Mr J. Westwood: Does Mr Baldwin’s silence mean that the seriousness of „ the. problem has made him speechless? The Speaker called on the next question. Mr Baldwin later told Mr MacDonald that the latter’s coal censure motion might he taken on November 2f)th, providing the Committee stage of the Unemployment Insurance Bill was finished on November 28tli.

Mr G. R. Lane-Fox, in answer to a question, said there were 923 fatalities in the mines in 192-1, and 913 in 1927. Serious accidents numbered 3707 in 192.1 and 3889 in 1927. Mine accidents were always fluctuating, and did not agree the above increase were attributable to longer working hours.

BRITISH PARLIAMENT. LONDON, Nov. 23. Mr Bridgeman replying in the Commons to Mr Kenworthy said the Singapore expenditure to date amounted to £422,287. He expected the -•-wtrk would he completed in 1937 at a total cost of £7,760,000. Mr Kenworthy asked was Singapore discussed at the Geneva Naval' Conference and would 'the cireunistarces responsible for the curtailment of the cruiser programme also lead to retardment in this matter? Mr Bridgeman said Singapore ’-as ’■ot discussed at Geneva. The ’ork would certainly he retarded but owing to the unexpected length of time involved in preliminary work, he did not suggest at Geneva any reason lor the postponement of the work. Mr Bridgeman in reply t> another question said no British proposals 7 made at Geneve would have etuu-ed an increased tonnage or costs com- : pared to the programme outlined ft the opening conference. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. LONDON, Nov. 23. Mr Bridgeman informed a questioner that eleven 10.090 ton cruisers were being built. The published pro. gramme did not extend beyond 1020 and embraced one ten thousand tonner and two smaller cruisers each year in 1927, 1928 and 1929. A new situation had arisen at Geneva because although the British proposal to limit 10,000 tonners bad not been / accepted, the discussion left the hope that limitation might eventually be reached. The Government was therefore reluctant to lay down any more ten thousand ton vessels. It had dropped one ten thousand tonner and ono smaller cruiser from the 192, programme and the substitution of a smaller one for a ten thousand tonner in the 1929 programme was also under consideration.

Sir Davison; Does not tlie arrangement affect Imperial trade routes and food supplies. Lady As toy,; Is anyone attacking Britain’s food supplies. Mr Bridgeman said it was imperative to prepare in advance for the defence of trade routes. Mr Thurtle; Will you hear in mind that the country will be pleased if you drop tlie other two large cruisers.

There was no answer. Sir Philip Sassoon in answer to a question said the present appropriate first line strength of the Royal Air Moroo was 739 jmachines, ofl which 270 were stationed abroad. The total personnel was 29.985. The I'rent'll strength was 1350 first line air cratt, of which 280 were stationed abroad. Air \. M. Samuel told an inquirer that it was out of the question for the Government to make advances of twenty per cent of the face value of Business peoples investments in Russian securities, which the Soviet had repudiated, as the loans would ho repayable when the Russians recognised their nabi 1 A’Mr Buchanan: Are these investors receiving parish relief. There was no answer.