COMMONS MEMBERS HELD DOWN.

Shannon News, 6 August 1929, Page 2

COMMONS MEMBERS HELD DOWN.

HOW THE GOVERNMENT WAS SAVED. (Published in the ."Daily Mail.") LONDON, August 1. x The Government was saved from disaster, an injustice was done to the Liberals, and the Scottish grievance went undiscussed, all because the present chamber is too small for the number of members of Parliament, says the Parliamentary correspondent of the "Daily Mail." The scene arose a<ter the .announcement of the Prime Minister (Mr MacDonald) that lack of time before the recess prevented the Government from proceeding with the bill amending the educational clauses of the Scottish Local Government Act, which the Conservatives passed. ' Scottish Labourites, especially the Clydesiders, declared" that the question was one. on which they won their seats in the elections.' Miss Jenny de- > manded why the Parliament" did hot sit j a few days longer to accomplish its ; business. Mr lan Macpherson (Lib.), who defeated Mr Hugh D. Melntosh, fdrmeily of Sydney, for Boss and Cromarty, moved the immediate adjournment to direct attention to the Government's 'failure to implement its promise. • TANTAMOUNT TO DEFEAT.

Such a motion, which, would'have been tantamount to a defeat of the Governrrient if it had been carried; can only be accepted if 40 members rise in support. The Speaker only counted 39, of whom 35 were Liberals, two Conservatives and two Labourites, but several Labourites were apparently held down by their colleagues, notably Miss Jenny Lee, whose coat was firmly grasped by a neighbour. There were actually 43 Liberals present, but eight were standing behind the cross benches, and therefore, were technically outside the House. ' They were unable to sit down 1 in order to stand up to support the motion, which was lost.