BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1931, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

IN THE COMMONS.

GOVERNMENT DEFEAT

OVER SCHOOL’S BILL

(British Official Wireless)

RUGBY, January 21. In the House of Commons, to-night

the Government were defeated in a division on the report stage of the Education Bill, for raising the schoolleaving age. The Bill has met with opposition from groups in all political panic, on the question of the State aid to be given to the non-provided section of

the schools, to enable them to fulfil the programme of building and staffing involved in the raising of the school age.- A series of conferences to reach an agreed settlement was held by the Education Minister during the but proved abortive.

The division took place on an amendment proved by Mr Scurr, a Roman Catholic Labour member , to suspend the operation of the Act pending an arrangement for. such a settlement with the non-provided school. The discussion resulted: For the amendment 282; against 249. Questioned by Mr Baldwin whether the Bill would be proceeded with tonight, the Prime Minister said that

no principle at all was involved in the division; and he hoped that the would proceed. A motion to adjourn the House, moved from the Conservative benches, was not pressed to a division,

The House passed the third reading of the Bill by 250 votes to 238,

Most of the Liberals abstained from voting, owing to the success of Mr Scurr’/? amendment, which Air Runeiman said, the Free Church supporters consider retrograde.

HOW DEFEAT CAME ABOUT. LONDON, January 21.

Though it was known that the School Age Bill division would be a critical one, the actual defeat of the Government was not expected. Members of the House of Commons have for the past few days been deluged with postcards from the Anglo-Catho-lic and the Roman Catholic electors demanding State aid for their sectarian schools to meet the new responsibilities that will be put upon them by this Bill. Some of the lobbyists, before the opening of. the session, forecasted that the. Government would have to withdraw their Bill. Nevertheless, Air Trevelyn (Minister for [Education) to-day informed the Labour Party at a meeting that despite no arrangements having been come to regarding the sectarian schools, ho must proceed with the Bill. Air Scurr (Laibour member for Stepney), thereupon announced that lie nud. his fellow Roman Catholic and Anglo-Oatholic Labourites had no option but to oppose the Government, Air Scurr declaring that sometimes party allegiance must give way to higher claims. Even then, the Government expected that Liberal votes would pull them through, they expecting that most of the Catholic Labourites would merely abstain from voting, but about forty of the Labourites voted for Air Scurr’s amendment.

'liie majority of tire Li beta Is voted for the Government. 'The conservatives mustered all ol the available strength for the amendment.

The Oppositionists, when they heard the figures, waved their handkerchiefs and cheered wildly, and shouted “Resign j” but Mr MacDonald calmly rose nnd said that he was jrhther surprised at this excitement, as the division did not involve any principle. He said that the Government would continue negotiations aiming at an agreement for those schools which are not provided for. Nothing further, lie said, was involved.

IN THE COMMONS

(Received ttif« day at 1.5 n.m * y LONDON, January 22. In the Commons, Mr Montague sunmi t ted a written , answer, stating the Government’s decision , regarding the schneider trophy precluded the Air Council permitting any serving Royal Air Force officer to compete as pilot.