BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1930, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

MACDONALD MINISTRY SUFFER

A REVERSE.

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

(Received this day at 11 a.m.) LONDON, March 11. The Labour Government suffered a deleat in the House ctf Commons tonight, when a Conservative amendment deleting the levy on behalf of exports from the Coal Bill was carried by 282 to 275. Mr Herbert Samuel asked how the Government could go to Geneva and ask the delegates to abandon all subsidies on exports when it was itself taxing Home manufacturers by increasing the price of coal in order to give a. subsidy which would enable foreign manufacturers who were competing with Britain to get their fuel more cheaply. Mr Cunliffe Lister said there was no merit in the levy on coalowners, who would make, their own arrangements to subsidise a. particular class of coal without tins element of compulsion.

THE COAL .MINES BILL

LONDON, March 11. The Government is dealing with a

critical stage in the Coal Mines Bill this evening of four and possibily five amendments to clause 2, which contains provisions for setting up of a central scheme in regulation of the production, supply and sale of coal by owners. The Government is likely to be faced with combined , strength in both sections of the opposition. The first amendment, however, moved on behalf of the Liberals by Clement Davies and the object of which was to en-

sure that a quota of the provision should not apply to coal or coke ifor export, was rejected by 272 votes to 940

LONDON, .March 11. Mi' Graham said there was nothing now in the proposal for a levy. If the clause were defeated all hope, of assisting the iron and steel industry ivould disappear. While a division ivas taken it was obvious that the !'esult would !)(■ very close, as the

Liberals were voting solidly against the Government. When the figures v»:re handed, to thrt Conservative Whip it was plain that the Government had suffered its first defeat.

The Opposition arose in their seats and cheered and waved the order papers. It was a full '.minute before the din subsided and thq division was announced.

Mr Baldwin asked : “Does the Prime Minister propose to go on with the Bill?”

Mr MacDonald, mho was loudly cheered, said he was amazed at the question. “The Government intends to proceed with the programme until a vote of censure is passed on the general question.” -Forty-two Liberals, two hundred and thirty-eight Conservatives and two Independents voted against the Government.

Mr LJoyd George was absent through illness.