BRITISH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1933, Page 6

BRITISH POLITICS

ANGLO-ARC! ENTI NIC

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

LONDON, February 22. In the Lords, Lord Temploniore, in reply to a question as to whether Argentina was sending prime heel' as bagged meat offal, in order to evade the quota, said the Board of Trade had foreseen the possibility of a .substantial increase in importations of dpffnl anil other varieties” outside the quota arrangements, and had obtained the importers’ assurance that this could be strictly regulated. The board would not wink at any evasion of the Ottawa agreements, and would Lake every step to safeguard the home producer.

IN DIAX SELt'-GOVE.HNMENT

LONDON, February 22. The. House of Commons. . by 287 votes to 42 •negatived a motion bv General Page Croft declaring that the step towards self-government in India should begin with the provinces and not with the Central Government.

Sir S. Heart* (secretary for India) spiel that the Government's position was unchanged since the House in December, . 1931, overwhelming . apprav-. ed the Government’s policy. . Happily the state of affairs in India had vastly improved.

IN NEWTO CNDLAND

RUGBY, February 22. •Mr <T. H. Thomas announced in the House of Commons the appointment of A. Royal Commission to . examine into the future of New found I and, and, in particular to report on its financial situation and prospects. Lord Aimilree is to be the chairman. The other members being Dr McGrath, (who is nominated by the. Canadian Government) ; and Sir Wm Stavert (nominated by the Newfoundland Government), with P. A. ' Clutter buck (Dominions Office) as secretary- The Royal Commission will assemble in Newfoundland early in March, and should complete its inquiries in ( time to enable decisions to be made before Newfoundland's debt interest due on Ist July, matures.

NAVAL CONTRACTS

RUGBY, February 22. Jn the House of .Commons, answering a question, Sir B. « Ityres-Monsell said that orders for the naval shipbuilding programme for 1932 had not yet been completely placed. Con-: tracts for the hulls and machinery to »sm approxiuyjji? value .of four «nd! s half millions has been placed with, various firms, apart from other eontracts for gun-mountings ■ and 'armaments. There remained to be ordered the hull of the cruiser “Apollo,” one destroyer, p, depot ship, two sloops, three submarines, and the small craft o|l these. The .“Apollo” and tile twoj sloops, and one submarine would he dockyard built. The orders for them would, not be placed before the end of .March.

Asked .whether this programme was related to.the Government's proposals at Geneva, the First Lord of the Admiralty replied: “Yes, very precisely.” . .