BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1931, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

IN THE COMMONS. OTTAWA CONFERENCE. [United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] (Received this day at 12.25. p.m.l LONDON, March 16. In the House of Commons, Mr Ihomas in reply to Kingsley Wood, said that he was -not aware of the Dominions arrangements for participation at Ottawa Conference. There had certainly been negotiations Mr Winterton- "Wh. a will yon be able to make a statement.” Mr Thomas—“ That depends on the Dominions. There are certain difficulties,” HOUSE AND CONE ESS I ON. LONDON, March 36. Mr Clynes, in answer to questions, said that he was satisfied alter searching enquiries that no confession by Rouse had been passed out of the prison by any official. It was most unlikely that it had, been passed out by any one else. Mr Gardener—“ Certain newspapers claimed that definite information concerning the confession came from the prison,” Mr Clyhcs—“l cannot answer for the resources and inventiveness of the press. I answer other enquiries,” He had no power to prohibit the publication of such sensational, erroneous information. There was a firmly establshed practice against the publication, officially, of such confessions. N ; o official informatlion concerning Rouse’s last hours was given out. A BILL DEFEATED. LONDON, March 16. There was a strenuous discussion in the Committee on the Electoral Bill. Mr Hugh Cecil moved rejection of the clause abolishing University representation . Mr Clynes said 120 thousand University electors sent twelve members to the House of Commons in addition to voting in their own residential areas. Rhys Davis revealed that fifty-eight Labourites, tweny-nine Liberals, 13b Conservatives in the Commons, had been to the Universities Ur Baldwin said nothing excited Ids admiration more than Labour’s fight for an extension of educational facilities. Government ought to do the big thing and leave the Universities their privilege. Excitement prevailed when a division showed the Government were defeated by 246 to 242. Air Baldwin suggested the Bill should be dropped. Mr MacDonald replied that be would consider the matter. The discussion was adjourned amid Conservative c-ricts of “Resign.”