BRITISH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

PARLIAMENT resumes. (British Official Wireless). Received this day at 12.25. p.m.) ' RUGBY, October 29. Parliament reassembled this afternoon after three months recess. As it # was • continuing the session opened last July, it settled down to business without formal preliminaries. A long list of questions are down to be answered. A large number are addressed to Mr Thomas, Lord of the Privy Seal and Minister of Employment. concerning the progress made with stliemes to relieve unemployment. ' In answering these in bulk All' Thomas said he proposed that the vote for his salary he put down early next week, in order to give the opportunity for a full discussion, on the subject. He would then make a comprehensive statement. He added that he was more than gratified with the response received from employers to his request for assistance: Asked what progress 'was made in the promotion of schemes for railway electrification, Mr Thomas said 'it was learnt that so much had been done that he wished to make a full statement next week. Mr Ben Turner (Secretary for Alines) announced the Governmenthoped to make a statement on Thursday of their proposals for a reduction of hours of work in mines. Air Snowden (Chancellor of the Exchequer) who received, an ovation from the Government benches when he entered the House, to act as leader until the return of Air AlacDonald announced th*e Prime Minister would •ifiend the House next Tuesday, and make an early statement on the results of his visit to the United States. RUGBY, October 29. Air A. Henderson (Foreign Secretary) stated an opportunity for a discussion on the protocol providing for resumption of diplomatic relations with Rus sia, would be given at an early date. Mr Gillet (for the Board otf. Tradei said under the Export Credits Guarantee scheme,, six contracts of -a total face value of £136,270, had been entered into,,with exporters in this country in respect to exports to Russia. The goods..pqvered by.the contracts included coal, machinery, and textiles. The percentage of risk accepted by the Department was 60 per cent.

; Air Lunn,(Under Secretary ( for the Colonies) preferred to defer any general statement, on Palestine pending the ; inquiry ,pp.w being held into the re cent disorders. He said the Colonial Office was prepared to consider a proposal that a .conference be -called of representatives of Arab and Jewish bodies with a view to reaching a settlement. ;■ -. ■

Tlie Minister of Agriculture announced that grants from .:th<L Development Fund, in aid oHurtlier -improvements of fishing harbours, amounting to £30,750, had recently been sanctioned. The House proceeded with the second reading of the Coast Protection Bill, which is designed to place all foreshore under the- control cf the Board of Trade, and uo-ordinate the work of the local authorities in dealing with Coast erosion.

Mr W. Graham (President of the Board of Trade) in introducing the Bill, mentioned that it would facilitate grants bv the Development Commission for. works which are at present impracticable and thus help to relieve unemployment.