BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1929, Page 5

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

IN THE COMMONS

WOMEN DEBATERS

THROWING BOUQUETS ABOUT,

(UuiLed Picks Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

LONDON, .Jan. 23.

In the Commons, tlu* debate on tin Local Government Bill in Committee, led to lively exchanges among the women. The Conservative,- Percy Cates, supported hy a Labourite, A. Greenwood, moved an amendment preserving the system of Government pound for pound aid for municipal, maternity and child welfare service. Lady Iveagh opposed the amendment. .Mis:: Wilkinson: “It ill behoves a lady who is a millionaire and has every possible means to care for hot own children, to oppose the extension of paternity and child welfare to the c'inic.s.’ L,tdy Astor jumped up and said: “it would he as reasonable to say you have no right to Uilk about children, because you arc not a mother.” Miss Wilkinson: “One expects that kind of sneer.”

Lady Astor: “One need not be poor lo nave a heart. Rich women are just as interested in infant welfare as others.” Mr Hudson: “You are more interested in keeping your money.” Lady Astor: “Rats.”

Tin* Chairman interfered. Mr Neville Chamberlain said everyone was very proud of the maternity and child welfare centres, which mac-

eriaiiy contributed to a reduction of infant mortality. He believed the Bill's methods of grants were in the best interests of the service.

The amendment was negatived by 203 to 130.

QUESTIONS ASKED

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, Jan. 23

Sir A ( hanibcilain was asked in the Commons to-day about consultations between Sir Miles Lampson, British Minister in China, and the Nanking Government. He replied that Sir Miles Lampson iiad returned to liie north, but there were many nmtiers still to he settled between the two Governments. Replying to a further question Sir A. Chamberlain said Nanking was the official capital of the Nationalist Government but the transfer of the administration to the new seat of Government was not complete and dtfii-ullies in regard to accommodation made it impossible for a British Minister to reside theie. Arrangements were being made for a mombet of the British Legation staff to reside at Shanghai as the Minister’s persona’ representative and to visit Nanking as, and when required to keep in touch with the National Government.

Asked |wlit ii the (remaining units of the Shanghai defence force would bo wiUidrawn from China, Sir A. Chamberlain said the Government hail no desire to keep troops in Shanghai a day longer than necessary, but at present tlie conditions were not snob as to admit of a total withdrawal, allluiugn the numbers had been steadilv min ed