BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1931, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

LAND REFORM

[United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright].

LONDON, April 23

When informed of tlie House of Lord’s action in rejecting, by a large majority,' the two first clauses in the Government’s Agricultural Land Utilisation Bill, providing for the establishment of a corporation experiment in large scale farming, etc., Air Ram.sa.v MacDonald said: “We shall fight to the finish with the gloves off!” .!> Tlie “Daily Herald” lobbyist says: “If the Bill is mutilated beyond recognition, the Government will reintroduce tlie measure under the Parliamentary Act. Tlie House of Lords have already rejected the School Age Raising Rill. In all probability jt Avil! also mangle the Electoral Bill. Thais a formidable indictment is being built up.” 0 Conservative circles arc of tlie opinion that the Government policy is to work up a case against the House ol Lords, believing that it Avill be. a good election cry, and that the Government is forwarding much legislation that the House of Lords is most likely to reject on tlie ground that they bad been given no mandate for Socialism. Lord Banbury, avlio has given notice of a motion to reject twenty clauses of the Lard Bill, moved the rejection of Clause Three, stating it was an inGdioius attempt at land nationalisation .

Lord de la Warr, on behalf of tlie Goa’-gfitment, said that the rejection of the Clause would mean, that the House of Lords would be fending the grossest cases of neglect- of the land. After Lord Hnilsliam appealed to the House not to r-jeot the Clause, as it had been amended, the Clause was agreed +o by 75 votes to 17.

The Home of Lords sat on the Bill till midnight which is a very rare happening.