NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO : 10 March 1925
10 MARCH 1925
The Socialists attacked in the House of Commons the administration of the Ministry of Labour, and criticised on the ground of harshness certain circulars issued by the department affecting payment of unemployment benefit. In reply, the Minister said his policy had been to discriminate as carefully as possible between the man who thoroughly deserved and had earned his insurance money and the man who had not done so. He reminded Socialist members of the main causes of present unemployment, adding that the writing was perfectly clear on the wall.
With reference to Mr Kirkwood’s suspension on Thursday, the Prime Minister read in the House of Commons a letter from Mr J. F. Hope, Chairman of Committees, giving reasons for taking the course he did, and, while regarding his action as justifiable, recognising that there was no premeditation on Mr Kirkwood’s part to interrupt the debate. Mr Ramsay MacDonald welcomed the letter. It was later said that should Mr MacDonald withdraw his resolution he (Mr Baldwin) would recommend the House that the suspension should be rescinded. Mr Hope’s letter was later accepted by the Socialist party as ground for closing the incident, and their vote of censure is to be withdrawn. The termination of Mr Kirkwood’s suspension will be moved from the Government side of the House to-day.
Speaking at Cambridge, the Earl of Oxford and Asquith, referring to the restoration of the gold standard, saw it was one thing to get it and another to keep it, but for that purpose he had the greatest confidence in the co-operative sagacity of the Treasury and the banking world.
The Council of the League of Nations decided to postpone until Thursday the discussion of the Protocol.
It is reported that the North of Ireland Government intends to dissolve Parliament. It is stated that the Ministers are desirous of securing from the country an authoritative mandate on the boundary question.
Marquis Curzon of Kedleston underwent a severe operation. It was announced last night that the patient’s strength was being well maintained.
