BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1928, Page 5

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

IN THE COMMONS

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copy right).

’Received this day at 12.25. p.m.) LONDON. Dec. 5.

In the Cominous, Sir A. Chamberlain in answer to a question said the Government at present did not intend to adopt the general act for Pacific settlement disputes, received from the League of Nations Mr Kenworthy, introdiu ing a Bill substituting life imprisonment for the death penalty, said it wa„s supported hy members of all parties. There was always a chance of a mistake in a murder trial and be instanced Oscar Slater’s ease. it was better that a hundred guilty persons should escape the gallows than that one innocent one should bo judicially murdered. The Bill was read a first time by 119 to 8.

QUESTIONS AM) IMPLIES. LONDON, December 5. In the Commons, a crop of seven Labourite questions worn directed at the Post mastor-f tenoral concerning the terms of leasing cables and beam stations, and whether safeguards were taken to prevent beam being subordinated to cable interests.

The Postmaster-General indicated that at present be was unable to state the provisions of the contract. He reiterated bis promise to lay them on the table. If the terms were disapproved they could take the ordinary course of a vote ot censure.

Mr Wedgwood Bonn said inasmuch as the contracts provide for payment of grants for Imperial beam telephony, will you not lay the papers on the table in accordance with the standing orders. The Postmaster-General—Tlie fact is no grants will be paid.