BRITISH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1931, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS

IN THE LORDS. . I United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.] LONDON, February ]7. In the House of Lords, Lord Ponsonby moving the second reading of the School Age Bill described it as a small step forward in the educational ladder and an attempt to break down the barrier which for many generations had been purposely preserved in order to keep the workers in subjection through ignorance. Cries of “No, withdraw.” He did not believe the Opposition really opposed the principle of raising the school age or expansion of education produced by the Labour Party. That is why you hesitate to carry it further.”

Mr Hailsham moving tie* rejection, said the only motive was stated to he Air Snowden’s Commons declaration, that however desirable the reforms might lie, the country could not at present, afford them. The Archbishop of York regretted Lord Hailsham had taken a I *:■ • | “from the rising hope of stern unbending Tory who was at present the-Chan-cellor of Exchequer.” The main principle of the Bill was the raising of the school age. if they rejected the Bill it would he inferred that the Lords were opposed to that principle. “By the *>ge of fourteen people began to read but the cultivation of taste had not bWgu'n; It is true the greatest social and political peril was tile cheap nowspaper: The root thereof was the limited education of the people. If they had education they could not. and if they had more they would not read'them. As it was. we condemned them to lie the victims of such influence.”

The Bishop of London supporting the Bill, claimed the Anglican Church had been pioneers of education in England for centuries. At present, churchmen were paying ten thousand weekly for it. The people must be educated. The debate was adjourned. TN THE COMMONS. LONDON, February 17. In the Commons, Mr Snowden had a. busy quarter of an hour, answering questions in relation to the statement of Australia’s war debt to Britain. the -most direct thereof matters, a. query of what proposals have reached him for the revision of the terms. Mr Snowden :—“I have not received any communication thereon.” Mr Mader: “Will you point out to the Australian Government that if the question arises, Britain is in no position to make a concession.” Gration Double: “Will you also remember that these questions are most mischevious?” Mr Snowden did not reply. Mr Wise questioned relative to receipt of war debts from the Allies and Dominions, also Britain’s payments to America. Mr Snowden amplifying his reply, said our payments to the United States for the year 1931-2 amounted to £33,550,000. Our re'’" : pts from Dominions £7,653,000. Mr Wise:—“Are we to assume that the Balfour formula regarding payment's of Allied war debts are not included in the amounts pa,id to us from the Dominions?”.

811 IT AIN ’ S FI NANC F. WILL SNOWDEN TAX IMPORTS. LONDON, February 18. Several newspapers lobbyists assert that Mr Snowden, in the course of a seventy-five minutes’ address, warned the Labour Party at its meeting that there might be a deficit in the forthcoming Budget of from forty to fifty millions: The Chancellor said that he was determined to prevent conditions arising which would land Britain in the position of other countries which had five or six million unemployed. It is understood Mr Snowden admitted that it was not proposed to increase the direct taxation. Members of the Ministry are reported to have forecasted that there would be no change either in the income tax or the super tax, leaving the inference that there will he substantial increases in indirect taxation. In this respect it is recalled that Mr Snowden made an admission at the Guildhall on October 16th last that ho might have to "outrage his financial principles.”