BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1930, Page 6

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

• A CLOSE VOTE,

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

LONDON, July 9,

In the House of Commons, in the co.nl'mittee stage of the Finance Bill, tile Government was only saved from defeat by three votes. Doctor,- Leslie Burgin (Liberal) moved an amendment, which was supported by the Conservatives, for the permitting of the exemption from income tax of any money spent on plant or machinery. The amendment was only defeated my 278 to 275. The Government was saved by four of the Liberals voting with them. Thirteen Liberals did not vote.

About twenty-three Liberals, headed. by Mr Lloyd George, voted with the Conseratives, against the Government.

Mr' Snowden said that the proposal of Dr Burgin meant ' a subsidy to every trade and profession. Eveiy new counter put in a bank, and every new vat in every brewery would escape taxation. at the expense of the taxpayer. It would cost thirty millions a year, without reducing the unemployment., by. &xsingle- person. The greater part of this gift would go to the' prosperous industries, and it would leave Lazarus still begging at the gate. 1 Mr Lloyd George said that he did not desire to defeat the Government He was of the opinion that such a concession would cost only six or seven millions, and yet it would accelerate orders, and help on rationalisation. 1

Mr Winston Churchill said that this Liberal proposal was freer from objection than were others. When the division wa,s taken, the House was seething with excitement. The result was announced amid great ministerial cheering, with a univeisal gasp of relief. There were cries of “Resign!” and counter cheers. Some of the Liberals stated, after the division, that they had not realised that the Government' had been in serious danger, or they would have acted differently. There was a suggestion that the division woidd lead to trouble in the Liberal Party. The effect in Government quarters was to provoke severe criticism of Mr Lloyd George, and ,the remark that his Conspiracy to kill the Government had failed. THE COAL BILL. LONDON, July 9. After dealing with the Finance Bill, the House of Commons considered the House of Lords’ amendment to the Coal Mines Bill. ... . ' . After Mr Bevan and other miners’ representatives had declared against any “spread over” of the .working hours, a Government motion of disagreement with the House of Lords amendment on the subject was carried by, 296 votes to 238.