BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1929, Page 6

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

THE SCHOOL AGE

GOVERNAIENT STATEMENTS

[United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.]

LONDON, November 13

In the House of Commons, Sir B. Mac Lean moved calling on the Government without delay, to introduce its scheme to increase the minimum school leaving age to fifteen years. Sir C. P. Trevelyan, replying, said he was gratified that there was no great body of opinion opposed to the raising of the school age. No section of the working class objected, because it was perfectly understood that it would he accompanied by maintenance grants. Side by side with this great educational change, the Government were trying to re-organise schoolwork in order to give a real chance for anadvance in education to all children over, eleven years. It was proposed, to introduce a hill before Christmas.

Mr Ramsay Prime Minister. in answer to a question, said that the suggestion that the invitations to the Imperial Conference should include the Leaders of the Oppositions in the Dominions, as well as the Prime Almisters, had often been made. He had put it forward himself to the Dominion Prime Ministers in 1924, when it had not been supported. Therefore, no useful purpose could be served by again raising it now. Asked whether he would inquire if the Soviet Government intended to dissociate itself from the Chinese Comintern’s declaration that a Soviet promise was not worth the paper on which it was written, the Prime Minister did not reply. Air AlacDonakl told another questioner he did not propose to inquire further into the Zinovieff letter.

In the House of Commons, Air A. Ponsonby, Under-Secretary for the Dominion and Merchant Shipping Legislation was still sitting. He said lie could not say when it was likely to report. The question of the publication of its report would he a matter for the consideration of the respective Governments.

A NEW TREATY

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, Nov. 13

In the House of CVnninoiis, Air Lima announced Clio intention of the Government to negotiate a new treaiv with Iraq, which should come into force when Iraq was admitted to the League of Nations.