BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

DEBATE IN COMMONS,

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

LONDON, November 22

Major Elliott moved a Conservative amendment rejecting the Bill on the grounds that an unfair burden was cast on the juvenile insureds, and that a grave additional burden would be cast on the Exchequer. He said the whole Bill was based on an expectation that there would be one million and a quarter unemployed persons for three years, despite Mr Thomas s efforts. The Government had grafted a contributory scheme on to a non-con-tributory scheme without facing the inevitable consequences of making a grant of eight millions per year from the Exchequer, irrespective of the State Insurance Fund. Mr Maxton caused several breezes during his speech, particularly from Mr Lloyd George, when Mr Maxton taunted him with suggesting at the General Election that two hundred million pounds sterling should be taken out of industry and put into the roads. Mr Maxton said that when Mr Snowden offered 5.) per cent interest, people came and slapped hundreds of millions on the Treasury counter. His supporters would rather invest two hundred millions in human beings than in roads, or with the City of London financiers. Work was the only justification of citizenship, but as nobody was able to provide work, the unemployed people should not be asked to shoulder the burden of our economic mistakes. The debate was adjourned.