Opposition's Amendment to Budget Report Defeated: also on Sugar Duty London, May 6.
In the House of Commons to-day at the report stage of the Budget resolutions a motion by Lieut.-Col. Page Croft (Conservative) for the reduction of the duty on Empire ten to 2d. a pound was rejected by 248 votes to 155.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Philip Snowden, opposing, the motion, declared that what was described as preference on Empire ten was not preference at all. Indian and Ceylon teas did not compete with China tea.
The House of Commons "firmed the Budget ° resolutions affecting tea, cocoa, coffee and chicory without change.
Later.
The unsuccessful attempt of the Opposition during the report state of the Budget resolutions in the House ut Commons to reduce the duty on Empire ten was equally abortive when repeated ater in connexion with cored and sug:
An amendment to permit the fri= portation of Ti 0 rejected by 207
The Opposition efforts were re doubled "in connexion with an amendment it moved to stabilize preference for Empire-grown sugar at 512 pence per cwt. for one year. Comparison was drawn between ths preference of 33s. 10d. a ton given by Britain to the West Indies. with the #10 5a si the United The Opps! Britain make up the defi la the supply of Empire sugar by the Purchase of foreign sugar in either The Home Secretary, Mr. Arthur Henderson, on behalf of the Government, left the Bill to a free vote of the House, but, even if the second reading were carried, he held out no hopes facilities for its further progress at present.
Socialists and National People'
Nationalists Disappointed: Communists' Unexpected Gains:
National People's Party and Allied Experts' Report It is thought that the Government attitude would have been very different if the second principle of the Bill, namely, an alternative vote, had' been *the main principle.
The Bill was rejected by 298 votes to 144, went. Eighty-five per cent. of the electorate polled in some districts Huge crowds paraded the streets. tory. Thousands assembled at points where the returns were thrown on the sereen—Reuter.
Liberals Very; Bitter Cologne, May 5.
The Government's action with The elections were devoid of ex-regard to the proportional repre-citement. The voting followed resentation bill has re-kindled the ligious rather than political lines Liberal resentment at the Govern-'The only noticeable activity was ment's treatment of the Liberal displayed by the Social-Denocrats Party, which threatened to beand the People's Freedom Party, come acute until Br. Snowden's the Intter's slogan being "Dow budget had apparently healed the with the Jews!"—Reuter. differences.
Berlin, May 5.
'A recent meeting of the Liberal Party decided on an intensive eam-'The Intest indications ave that paign throughout the country, but the moderates "are. holding" their significantly postponed decision own against the reactionaries in regarding the extent and nature the elections throughout the coun-of the campaign until the second try and that the Reichstag will reading of the proportional repre-have a majority in favour of most their prosentation one of the als. carrying out the experts! propos: gramme and one on which they The former Chancellor, Herz had expected the Government to Hermann Mueller, the leader nf give its full support in view of the the Socialists, has been elected Reuter.
Liberals' wholehearted reception of the Budget.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.