JOHN BURNS’ SLASHING TALK

Taihape Daily Times, 11 December 1918, Page 3

JOHN BURNS’ SLASHING TALK

I “BLACKGUARDS, RUFFIANS ' FOOLS” DENOUNCED | 1 Mr. John Burns, who has been very quiet in the House of Commons, of late years delivered a slashing attack on the Board of Trade as a protest against the decision to allow gas and other’ companies to pay three-quarters of their pre-war dividends instead of half, as recommendation of the .Select Committee. In supporting a motion for the rejection of the Bill in its .amended form, Mr Burns denounced what he described as the financial Bolsheviks who had got hold of the president- of the Board of Trade and induced him to assist them in their machinations. They had turned the House of Commons into an appendage of the Stock Exchange. As a result of the decision they had sent up the price of gas stocks.' ' If the London County Council wished to increase the rates by a farthing for the purpose of peoples’ trams, the Yellow Pres, led by the “Times,” the “Daily Mail,” and the Evening News,” would be the first to call out. As he stated years ago, they were papers owned by blackguards, edited by ruffians, and read by fools. (Cries of “Order” and “Withdraw.”) The Speaker, intervening, asked whether the right hon. gentleman was referring to a noble lord in the House of Lords. Mr. Burns said he was repeating a statement he made years ago in the House, and recent events had confirmed his prescience, but if the Speaker said that that was out of order he ! would withdraw it. Mr. Burns said he was an old Parliamentary hand and, of course, he withdrew the expression. (Cheers.) He explained particularly that after referring for decision to a Select Committee the claim of the ’gas companies to have their sliding scale for dividends modified owing to the increase, in their working costs, Sir Albert had refused to abide by the committee’s unanimous judgment. By so doing he had struck a blow at the policy and procedure of Select, Committees. It is estimated that the House’s ali teration Of this recommendation will j cos’t London alone £289,000 a year, the equivalent of a rate of l|d in the £.

\ Wien pickling vegetables be sure to use tie best MALT VINEGAR SHARE AND’S. Guaranteed under I Food and Drugs Act. In bulk and 1 bottle. All grocers. 2