BRITISH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1931, Page 7

BRITISH POLITICS

CONSERVATIVE ATTACK. LIBERALS KEEP LABOUR IN POWER. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 16. Exceptional interest was taken in a censure motion upon the Government, which was moved in the House of Commons to-night by -M>' Baldwin, as a critical division was expected, owing to the uncertain attitude ot many Liberal members. It was generally expected that the motion would h e defeated, but only by a narrow margin. The motion was defeated by 305 votes to 251. Mr Baldwin asked the House to declare that owing to the non-fulfilment of election pledges, the 'Government did not deserve the confidence of the House. He alleged that the country had lost faith in the Government’s ability to deal effectively with the unemployment problem, The Conservative leader said that the present lack of confidence in industries was principally due to the failure to deal with unemployment and the mounting expenditure when industry needed relief from taxation, The Conservatives believed that the only satisfactory expedient was an ap, penl to the country, In reply, the Government’s case wSr put by the recently appointed Lord Privy Seal, Mr T. Johnston, who outlined the Government’s schemes for productive employment which were now operating. He contended that though unemployment problems confronted many great countries at present, in no other were they being so effectively and vigorously tackled as in Britain. The export trade was suffering from a great increase in the productive capacity of every industrial land and in some trades they could only’ look to international action. Referring to the British Exhibition at Buenos Aires, he said that one firm of manufacturers of agricultural machinery would he engaged for a whole year in following up the inquiries received at the Exhibition. As for future measures for usefully absorbing the unemployed, lie said that rural as well as urban slums be dealt with drastically. He also spoke hopefully of restoring prosperity in coal areas, through the production of motor fuel and other oils from coal, find said that the Government, which had been closely examining the subject, expected shortly to submit definite proposals to the House. The extension of electrification of railways, and a big scheme for improving telephones, enabling subscribers hundreds of miles apart to communicate as speedily as on local calls, and further developments in afforestu. tion were among the Government schemes referred to by Mr Johnston. The Government’s object, he said, was bv a long range policy to improve the country’s economic resources, Only by so doing could involuntary unemployment be abolished, and only so could mechanised output, the fruits ol genius, duration and toil, become a blessing and not a terror to humanity. Mr Johnston pointed out that unemployment had increased by the decline in emigration, Mr Lloyd George said that while he was dissatisfied with the progress made in dealing with unemployment, it would ho unfair to vote against the Government, which in February <,ccepted the Liberal proposals to review the situation. When considering whether to vote against the Government he had to consider the alternatives,’ and the Consevatives’ ideas of remedial measures, including food taxes and tariffs. The. Liberal Party considered Mr Johnston's speech in the committee room, and a majority large enough to defeat the motion decided to vote for the Government. When the division was called for, the motion was defeated by 305 votes to 251.