HOME POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1922, Page 5

HOME POLITICS.

DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS.

PREMIER ON REPARATIONS.

a reply to critics.

By Telegraph.—PrtM Asen.—Copyrtgbt.

Received Feb. 10, 5.5 p.m.

London, Feb. 9. The Irish Free State Agreement Bill was read a first time when the House of Commons resumed to-day. When the Address-in-Reply debate was continued the Labor Party’s Amendment was debated. The amendment regretted that in view of the large’ unemployment there is no indication that the Government is prepared to deal effectively with the causes of unemployment, or provide useful productive work, and no indication of a grant of substantial aid to local authorities who cannot be , expected to shoulder the national burden.

Dr. J. T. Maenamara (Minister of Labor) detailed various schemes to relieve unemployment in the autumn which were now employing 126,000. Dealing with Labor criticisms he asked why Laborites refused the Government’s invitation asking the party’s help thirteen months ago. Mr. Lloyd George, replying to Liberal and Labor criticism that the policy of demanding reparations from Germany was resulting in increased unemployment in Britain, made a short, caustic speech which was much cheered by the Coalition. He asked his opponents to state definitely whether they were in favour of cancelling all the reparations.

Mr. Lloyd George waited for a reply, thert he repeated tne question. “Is that the policy of the opposition, as Mr. Asquith seems to suggest?” “On the contrary,” he continued, “Lord Grey said the Government is pressing France too. hard. Which of these two policies doe’s the opposition uphold?” Mr. Lloyd George again waited for a reply, but there was no answer. The Liberal leader said to Germany: “We will cancel your debts.” The other leader said to France, "These fellows are pressing you hard; we are backing you up. Go on.” Mr. Lloyd George, continuing, said: “The real cause of unemployment is the impoverishment of our customers throughout the world. The problem will never be solved by telling one audience a different story to another.” Sir Alfred Mond (Minister for Health) replied to the debate. He said the present situation was not unique. After the Napoleonic wars 1,300,000 were in receipt of poor relief out of a population of eleven millions. Moreover, unemployment was more severe in other countries than in England. He defended the Government’s policy and schemes for giving employment involving millions of money, which already were going forward, and others were under consideration. The amendment was rejected by 270 vote l ; to 78.