BRITISH POLITICS

Taihape Daily Times, 14 February 1919, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

GOVERNMENT’S POLICY TRAVERSED

BY LABOUR LEADER

Received 9.25 a.m.

LONDON, February 13

In the House of Commons Mr, J. P. Clynes strongly criticised the Government programme. Referring to Ire 1 land, he said the Government must either yield to the accumulation of disorder which the past policy created or assemble sufficient military force. The Premier had promised Labour would have a place at the conference—a pledge that was not honoured. Mr. Clones criticised the Government’s handling of the industrial situation. Granting State doles weekly for doing nothing was not a solution and he demanded information regarding ’Russia and the abolition of conscription. Mr. Clynes said the country was entitled to know the Government’s military intentions. The Premier failed to tell the workers what material benefits were forthcoming. Mr. Clynes said organised labour might have made a mis-' take in pressing for too much at a single stage, hut there were exceptions to this rule. Look at the fortunes made in the past two and a-half years out of coal,'food and beer. (Cheers.) Mr. Clynes opposed the doctrine of force, but remedial action should be immediate.

Replying to Colonel Guineas’ amendment urging fuller information regarding the Peace Conference, U6yd George said the. Government had been trying to speed up the agreement. He was confident an agreement would be reached regarding Germany’s western boundary, but the eastern boundary was different. The Conference unanimously decided the colonies should not be restored to Germany. The Government adhered to the pledge to insist on this.