Ovation to Snowden

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 807, 30 October 1929, Page 9

Ovation to Snowden

HOUSE OF COMMONS TRIBUTE Parliament Reassembles UNEMPLOYMENT TEST QUESTION British Official Wireless Received Noon. RUGBY, Tuesday. PARLIAMENT reassembled this afternoon after its three months’ recess. As it was continuing - a session which opened last July, it settled down to business without formal preliminaries. A great ovation was given to Mr. Philip Snowden when he entered the House of Commons. A long - list of questions was down to be answered and a large number were addressed to Mr. J. H. Thomas, Lord Privy Seal and Minister of Employment, concerning the progress made with schemes to relieve unemployment.

In answering these in bulk Mr. Thomas said it was proposed that a vote for his salary should he put down early next week in order to give an opportunity for full discussion on the subject. He would then make a comprehensive statement. He added he was more than gratified with the response which he had received from the employers, to his request for assistance. Asked what progress had been made in promotion of schemes of railway electrification, Mr. Thomas said it was because so much had been done that he wished to make a full statement next week. Mr. Ben Turner, Secretary for Mines, announced that the Government hoped to make a statement on Thursday of its proposals for the reduction of hours of work in mines. Mr. Arthur Henderson, Foreign Secretary, stated' an opportunity for the discussion of the Protocol, providing for the resumption of diplomatic relations with Russia, would be given at an early date. EXPORTS FOR RUSSIA Mr. G. M. Gillett, for the Board of Trade, said that under export credits a guarantee scheme of six contracts, of a total face value of £136,270, has been entered into with exporters in this country concerning exports to Russia. Goods covered by contracts included coal, machinery, and textiles. The percentage of risk accepted by the department was 60 per cent. Mr. onowden, Chancellor of the Ex-

chequer, who received an ovation from Government benches when he entered the House, is to act as Leader until the return of Mr. MacDonald. It was announced the Prime Minister would attend the House next Tuesday and would make an early statement on the results of his visit to the United States. PALESTINE DISORDERS Mr. W. Lunn, Under Secretary Tor the Colonies, preferred to defer any general statement oil Palestine pending an inquiry now being held into the recent disorders. He said the Colonial Office was prepared to consider a proposal that a conference be called of representatives of Aral) and Jewish leaders with a view to reaching a settlement of disputes. Mr. Noel Buxton, Minister of Agriculture, announced that grants from a development fund in aid of further improvements of fishing harbours, amounting to £30,750, had recently been sanctioned by the House. He proceeded with the second reading of the Coast Protection Bill, which is designed to place all the foreshore under the sole control of the Board of Trade and co-ordinate the work of local authorities in dealing with coast erosion. Mr. W. Graham, President of the Board of Trade, introducing the Bill, mentioned that it would facilitate grants by the development of a commission for works which are at present impracticable and thus help relieve the unemployment.