Leaning to Labour

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 928, 22 March 1930, Page 9

Leaning to Labour

HINT OF LIBERAL PACT Parties Join On Free Trade RUMOURS FROM MRS. SNOWDEN'S LUNCH United I*.A. —By Telegraph—Copyright Received 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Friday. POLITICAL writers are still speculating on the relations between the Liberals and Labour. The “Daily Chronicle's'’ special correspondent insists that the talk of a compact ik without foundation. In refeitence to Mrs. Philip Snowden's luncheon, at which Mr. Lloyd G&eorge and other Free-Traders were present, the paper says tfkere is nothing new in the proposed joint action between the Liberals and Labour to their Conservative opponents favouring Protection, as they have worked together in previous fiscal

Importance is attached in some quarters to the fact that Mr. Walter Runciman, Sir Herbert Samuel and other prominent Liberal, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Snowden, the First Lord ofi the Adrnirality, Mr. A. V. Alexander the Pay-master-General, Lord Arnold* and other members of the Government vere present at what is called Mrs. Snowden’s “free trade” luncheon. The Liberal Party will furtlasr consider its position in relation to the third reading of the Coal Miners Bill at its next meeting on Tuesday.

In denying rumours that a LabourLiberal alliance was arranged at Mrs. Snowden’s luncheon party early fliis week “The Times” draws attention <f.o

the fact that tlfce company included Liberals like Mr.i Vivian Phillips and Sir Charles Mallet, who are opposed to Mr. Lloyd George’s policy, and who would not consider such an alliance. It reasserts that the party was wholly concerned with free trade, which is the policy

for which Mrs. Snowden shares her husband’s enthusiasm. “The Times’.*’ adds that the special strength of the Government is that none of the three parties want an appeal to the country before the spring of next year at the earliest. agreement in house The “Daily Express” regards yesterday’s proceedings in the House of Commons as showing that a LiberalLabour pact is in operation. The “Manchester Guardian” says there was no arranged coincidence, and there was no diplomacy in the luncheon. It was a mere attempt to get the free traders of both parties

! together, in view of the menace to j free trade, and there was no connection between it and the decision taken a few hours later by the Liberals on the Coal Mines Bill. Mr. Lloyd George explained why the Liberal Party would not take any further part in moving or supporting the amendment to the Bill during the committee stage. He said he understood the fate of the Naval Conference hung in the balance, and undoubtedly any action by the Liberals which would weaken the Government at this moment might have a very damaging effect on the fate of the conference. GOVERNMENT RESPITE The decision of the Liberals not to risk a dissolution enabled the Government to pass safely through the dangers of the committee stage of the (Coal Mines Bill. The House of Comjnons rejected by 274 votes to 229 the Conservative motion to omit the provision empowering district coal boards to* fix the minimum price at which all* classes of coal should be sold. Sbme of the Liberals supported the Conservative rfotion, opposing the clause regarding district levies for the purpose of facilitating the sale of certain* classes of coal, but the Government carried its point. The government also added a series of amendments giving effect to the undertakivgs to provide further safeguards for* the consumers. The committee stag*e was concluded and the House was