EXPENSES OF ROYAL TOUR.

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 22, 21 February 1927, Page 8

EXPENSES OF ROYAL TOUR.

LABOUR PROTEST IN COMMONS , DISCOURTEOUS LANGUAGE USED LONDON, February 17. When Mr Ronald McNeil moved in the House of Commons a vote of £7OOO as a grant-in-aid for the Duke and Duchess of York’s mission, he expressed the hope that it would be accepted unanimously. Mr Kirkwood, on behalf, of the workers, made an emphatic protest, that the part of the Empire .issuing the invitations should pay all the expenses. He objected to England paying for sending their Royal Highnesses on a joyride. x Mr Kirkwood said that when he raised the question on the Prince of Wales’ joyride to South America he was told the visit was for the benefit of trade and cementing the British Empire. Had trade benefited? The Government had just given a large meat contract to Argentina which formerly went to Australia. "Was that cementing the Empire? A recent report suggested the deduction of unemployment insurance payments to 600,000 workers, yet the country could afford £7OOO to send the Duke and Duchess of York to the ends of the earth. “And it doesn’t matter one iota to the welfare of the country if they never return,” said Mr Kirkwood amidst uproar? The Chairman, Captain Fitzroy, said: I cannot allow remarks of that kind. Mr Kirkwood: I have taken the highest opinion and have been informed that I can use the language •>! have just used. . Mr Kirkwood said he desired to pro-' test against anyone in Britain getting thousands sterling weekly when workers got under three pounds. He had just come from Plymouth, where a woman asked him to protest vigorously against this expenditure-, '(The Duke and Duchess had plenty of their own money and they paid no income tax. “Thus, when it is a question of taxation they arc placed in a special compartment beyond ordinary mortals, .but when it is a x case of expenditure the Government puts them as beggars and comes and bogs the House of Commons to vote them £7OOO. When their highnesses got married I protested in this House,” Mr Kirkwood continued, “because prior to marriage the Duke received £lO,OOO a year, but after marriage this -was increased by another £15,000.” Mr R. R. Wilson (Conservative) resented the criticisms of their Highnesses, who were undertaking the duty, of Ambassadors of the Empire and earning the gratitude, esteem and affection of every decent-minded man and woman in Britain. Mr Kirkwood: That means we are not decent-minded. Dr Watts (Conservative) testified to the beneficial results of the Prince of Wales’ tour and expected similar results to follow the Duke and Duchess of York’s visit. Mr Hardie ' (Labour) thought it would have beoh better to have sent’ out a delegation representing all aspects of the nation, not a mere figurehead. , . Mr Scurr (Labour) did not think this was the time for a visit in view of the distress in Britain, where 1,500-, 000 were unemployed.