BRITISH POLITICS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 17 July 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

HOUSE OF COMMONS REPLIES TO QUESTIONS KIII.NKI.ANI) EVACUATION (British Ollicial Wireless) RUGBY, 16tli July. Asked whether any instructions hud been sun!, to the British Army headquarters in tin' L'hiiic occupation zone as tu the proposed arrangements For evacuation of occupied territories, the UnderSecretary for War, 3Mr Sliinvvell, replied lliat definite instructions could not be issued until a decision liad been readied rcgardii:« evacuation. liuL arrangements which would then lie necessary had naturally been considered by the War Office iu conjunction with the general officer commanding in the chief British army on the Rhine. Replying t" a question in the House of Commons, the Postmaster-General said it had been decided to establish a public: service between London and Berlin for the transmission by telegraphy of pictures, photographs, and other similar matter. The service will at the outset be of an experimental character, ;itid the question of its permanent adoption and its extension to other routes will be considered when sufficient experience has been obtained. The Lord Privy Seal, Mr Thomas, replying to a. question on the possibility of building a road bridge over tho Severn to serve South Wales, said it could not be dissociated from the other question of Severn barrage, which was not being studied. It was also stated that he regarded the proposal for the construction of a mid-Scotland canal capable of carrying the heaviest shipping as one for inquiry, and he was looking iixto it. The estimated total value of schemes now before the Unemployment Grants Committee is about £5,500,000. Asked whether he was prepared to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Coast Erosion, the President of the Board of Trade said he hoped to introduce a Bill on the subject before the summer recess. In reply to a question, the President of the Board of Trade, Mr Graham, said statutory rules for finding the position of the loadline on ships, which~had been in force since 1890. have been modified from time to time in tho light of increased experience and improved construction of ships. Further revision of the rules has been undertaken by an expert committee which is to report very soon. It is proposed to send its report to the dominions and foreign Governments for consideration, and efforts will be made to secure an international agreement on the subject of loadline.