Bitter Fight Expected Over tha Local Government Bill London, Nov. 26.
The Local Government Bill was submitted to-day to the House of Commons by the Kt. Hon, Neville Chamberlain, Minister of Health, This Bill, which is an extremely complicated—measure containing: over 100 clauses, has edged that it will at the expense of the smaller rate lers of industry "Phe Minister of Health described the measure as the most important. of the session and among the great~ est of the measures presented to any. parliament.
He said it the final stage of the great measure introduced by the Government for the reform of the collection of local rates. The em of Local Government. throughout the country was in many respects obsolete and eried aloud for reform. In this connection Wo mentioned instance the con-caf the wasteful Roards of disttiets for the maintenance and the inequitable system sessing loral rates which, he said, wax slowly strangling, agricul= tre and The Bill before the Mouse, he continued, would relieve industry to the extent of £24,000,000 a year, three-fourths of which would go to the moat depressed industries giving: the greatest employment, Tt was the only practical remedy for the present chaotic methods of relief.
Mr, Arthur Greenwood, the Las hour economist, moved the rejection of the Bill on the ground that it perpetuates the evil of the poor system, does not provide for unemployment a national responsibility. will not appreciably: roliews the financial position necessitous areas, will arrest the normal steady development of local health ser views, and will abd to the burden of shopkeepers, householders and other ratepayers by rating re+ on an unfair basis, After a hvief debate the House
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