BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1930, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

BRITISH UNEMPDOMENT

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

(Received this clay at 8 a.m.) LONDON, May 19

Mr Neville Chamberlain initiated a debate on unemployment and lie emphasised the seriousness of the situation and said he did not ask the Government to adopt safeguarding but asked for a declaration that there be no further interference with the existing duties for a term of years. Air Thomas said the problem of unemployment could never l>e solved by any Government unless that Government could carry with it the heart and co-operation of the workers. He admitted unemployment was growing, uorse and would increase to 27,0ut) to-morrow.

LABOURITES CRITICS

LONDON, May 19

In the House of Commons Air David Kirkwood (Clydeside Labourite) criticised the Government for not adequately meeting the unemployment position. The amendment of Air Chamberlain (Conservative) to reduce the vote of the Department of Labour was rejected by 229 votes to 209. The Clydeside group of Labourites with Messrs Oliver Baldwinfi W. J. Brown,' Beckett, Fenner-Brockway, Aliss Jennie Lee and Mr Wise abstained from voting.

QUESTION IN COMMONS

(Received this dav at 11 a.m A RUGBY, Alay 20

The President of the Board of Trade Mr William Graham stated in the House of Commons that an effort would be made to introduce before the end of July, a Bill dealing with the purchase of mining royalties, but was afraid it would not progress beyond the introduction.

Questioned regarding Government’s policy on Imperial Preference he said it. had been already clearly stated, and he added that it was not proposed to impose an import duty on foreign wheat, so the question of according preference to Canadian wheat, that was in the question did not arise. Several qeustions ton employment matters were addressed to the Lord Privy Seal, Mr Thomas. He said that as a resut of his, discussion with representatives of association of motor manufacturers' and traders, he was confident that a real co-operative effort was being made by industry to develop trade. He added that it had been decided that industry should take steps to organise a representative exhibit of British motor products at the British Empire Trade Exhibition at Buenos Aires next year He stated that the Government of the Union of South Africa had placed in England an order for forty-six thousand tons of steel rails and various permanent heavy accessories.

Asked if in view of the desirability of encouraging investments in British Industries by British investors he would reconsider a reparation loan under the Young . Plan . the Chancellor of the Exchequer, ■ Mr Snowden, said the amount of the reparation loan to be issued in London would be limited to the British Empire share of the gross proceeds of the loan. The receipts in this country would be used to reduce the National Debt. In those circumstances no question would arise of interference with investments in industry.

In the House of-Commons to-night, Sir Robert Horne (Conservative) moved the rejection of the motion for the second reading of the Finance Bill. He said that owing to the Budget’s heacy additional taxation, industry was faced with increased difficulties in competing successfully in the world s markets. In social services, his country had gone twice as 'far as any other and by increasing that expenditure for which (revenue could only come from the already over-burdened industry, the existence of social services were threatened.

Sir Robert Samuel Liver supporting the Bill recalled that burden of rate relief left by the late Government Federation Bill was very heavy, and had been estimated at twenty-four million pounds by Mr Neville Chamberlian. Tlie present Chancellor was determined to meet his obligations. Perhaps lie was doing more. If there was a small debt, there would be an improvement of the trade. The Budget was likely to yield a surplus next year and perhaps a considerable surplus the year after that. It was a tribute to l -itisli democracy that the Labour Government had not yielded to the i.emntation to pnt aside obligations regarding debts. It was a grim Budget ‘m 4 - lie thought it not unjust. Mr Pethic Lawrence (Fnancinl Secretary to the Treasury) said the large size of the Budget was mainly due to the aftermath of the war.