Montreal, Quebec, Feb. 16.
The progress of the Unemployment Itrsurance Bill at Ottawa has been low. It is now in the second read~ ug stage, and the members of the Opposition are showing sigs of persistent obstruction. While "Mackenzie King gave the Premier assurance that the Liberals would ce-operate In every possible way to expedite the passing of the bill, he tas shown In the past week that his forming zeal can wane very rapld-'y In the face of political considera sons. The Liberals feel that they gain a few points in the party Hruggle by throwing cold water on who frst item in the "New Deal legislation, and they may attempt merely to talk the bill out.
The first comments on the bill showed that most of the members of the House were not entirely satisfied with it terms, Tt was claimed thet It Is not suMiclently inclusive: that it Jdebars certain classes of labour from privileges that very much need greater sense of security; and that may be more expensive to operate than is presently estimated. "Such. objections are important, but they do not present insurmountable dific'- les. "A proper study of the bill. clause by clause, by a joint commit: tee of the House, might give amy opportunity to correct the main weaknesses.
Tu any far-reaching social legis lation of this sort, it would seem the uty of all the representatives to cooperate fully, and enact a law that for the good of the people fat large. Instead. the old habit Slekering bark and forth, and of in-bulging in personalities" when the country is crying for policies, har taken hold of a number of the lead-ug members in both the main parties, "The reports of the dally proceedings In the House are rather Aepressing: it seems as though, with so much to do, there Is little evience of the will to do it.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.