BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

ADDR ESS-IN-REPLY

(United Press Association—By Electric ' -'Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, July 5,

In the Commons,-.Sir Osivakl Mosley ' resumed; the debate on the Address-m-Reply. He said that the present House, was elected to make a determined effort to deal with the unemployment. He pointed out that if the Liverpool 'street electrification scheme was approved, it would involve an

expenditure of from seventy-five to a hundred millions sterling, which would ' go largely to the steel trade. The late Government, he said, had sabotaged Lord St. David’s Committee, which had

been one of the most effective instruments for dealing with the unemployment problem. The new Ministry tvas setting that Committee to work again. If the Committee sanctioned schemes of public works at the same rate as formerly, they i would eiiiploy 150,000 men yearly. ' Sir L. Worthington Evans (Conservative) said that most of the unemployment proposals were hardships. He declared that the real remedies w?r© a reduction* of costs and tho provision of new markets.' .... ‘ >

Sir Herbert Samuel (Liberal), in his first speech. in the House of Commons since 1018,‘ expressed the opinion that . the vast majority of the people had voted consciously and deliberately fot an active policy of social improvement, and for the promotion of' international peace; 'and he said that it would be shameful and dangerous if. party mano- ■ ouvres made the Government's mandate of no avail; for the workers Avould then conclude that Parliamentary institutions were almost worthless. The House must recover control of expenditure,,'and the decisions of tho Committee of Supply must not involve the ‘life of the Government/ 'The Liberals, he said, asked for expedition, but • not for priority, for electoral reform. Unemployment, he said, must have priority over everything. He hoped that in the • impending mining legislation they would adopt a cautious manner of dealing with working hours. The Royal Commission on the subject took the view that the wages and the hours should be considered together. He hoped that' the Ministry would consider ’the. international aspect of the coal question, and also the possibility' of uniform action/ The Coal Commission had attached importance to having joint committees at every p‘ secure ; better relations between the employers and employed. , . Sir Herbert Samuel remarked: “ W' believe that the labour question, in its essence, is not only a matter of cash, but’ 1 of status. The workers will - be content to remain serfs! Therefore. I think it most important, not only in the mines, but throughout the industry, to haye ; joint; councils . of .employers and employees in every establish-

Blent.” , \ . . Commander; Southby (Conservative) said that whoever went to America- to discuss armaments should consider the possibility of the co-ordinating of armaments. It was; mischievous to spread : the idea that, there was an Anglo-American race in 'armaments; i The debate was adjourned., ...

» (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, July 6. ~ '! Sir 0. Mosley’s figures were later challenged ; by Sir L. WortliingtonEvnns,. who said the work could be done for £12,000,000. After somewhat acrimonious exchanges, Mr J. H. Thomas was appealed to, and admitted Sir Oswald Mosley! had conveyed a wrong impression. He meant to point;out a scheme for the, electrification of railways generally and if it.was earned to a logical conclusion might involve such expenditure. ; •. .-. SOVIET COMAIENT’/Received this day at 8 a.m.) • MOSCOW, July 5. Commenting'-on the King’s Speech, the newspapers sue unanimous that the Soviet won’t agree to any preliminary negotiations to determine the conditions of resumption of Anglo-Soviet diplomatic relations. Tlie .“Isyestiji/”recalls that an immediate ■ unconditional resumption was a plank in the Labour Party’s election platform and declares the Soviet would rather that Great. Britain advance the conditions of demand and guarantees.