Tag: 100 Years Ago

15 MAY 1925

The Importation of Pedigree Animals Bill and the Protection of Birds Bill passed third reading in the House of Lords, and the Report stage of the Agricultural Returns Bill was agreed to. Lord Newton called attention to the depression of the British film industry.

The House of Commons discussed unemployment on a Vote of £8,329,209 for the Ministry of Labour.

The London Electricity Supply (No. 2) Bill passed Report stage and third reading in the House of Commons, and the Protection of Animals Bill was read a second time.

French diplomatic circles deny that there will be any necessity, before a final settlement of the security and disarmament questions can be reached, to hold an Allied Conference at which Germany would be represented, as was suggested in a London report.

The King and Queen spent the day at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley and made a tour of the pavilions and palaces.

Sir Francis Bell has succeeded the late Mr Massey as Prime Minister of New Zealand. At a memorial service for Mr Massey held in Westminster Abbey, the King, the Prince of Wales, and the Duke of Connaught were represented.

Sir Rider Haggard, the well-known novelist, died in London.

Socialism, housing, and temperance were among the subjects discussed at a conference in London of Women’s Unionist organisations.

Over 1,000 delegates of the National Liberal Federation, meeting at Scarborough, discussed Free Trade, arbitration and disarmament, dereliction, and pensions.

14 MAY 1925

The death of Lord Milner was announced.

In the House of Lords, Earl Buxton asked whether the reports upon slavery which the Secretary for Foreign Affairs undertook to call for in 1923 had yet been received, and whether the League of Nations had asked for information. Viscount Cecil replied that, while the Government were anxious to carry forward to the utmost of their power the suppression of slavery, the situation had undoubtedly been modified by the fact that the League had undertaken to make inquiries into the subject. The Government would act with and through the League of Nations.

The Rating and Valuation Bill, the main objects of which are to simplify the method of making and collecting rates and to promote uniformity in valuation, passed second reading in the House of Commons.

The Earl of Oxford and Asquith, who received the Freedom of the City of London, replying to the toast of his health proposed by the Prime Minister, referred to the innate generosity of the English people and English politicians.

Mr Churchill, who was the guest of the British Bankers’ Association, said the prolongation of the embargo on the export of gold would have been taken in every part of the world as a mark of weakness in our financial system. He also spoke on pensions in their relation to industry, and appealed for a strong public opinion to support the Government in combating the upward pressure of expenditure.

A monument has been unveiled at Chanak Fair to the memory of the New Zealand troops who fell in Gallipoli.

At the Canadian shipping inquiry, Mr Preston was cross-examined regarding statements made in his report alleging unfair discrimination against Canadian ports by the steamship combine in the North Atlantic. There were several lively passages with counsel.

13 MAY 1925

Mr Baldwin, replying to a deputation from the Amalgamated Engineering Union who approached him on the question of trade depression, gave an assurance that the Government would lose no opportunity of forwarding any practicable plan that seemed likely to lead to its alleviation.

Mr Baldwin has promised the aid of Government Departments in giving all possible information to the Joint Committee, composed of representatives of the masters and men in the shipbuilding industry, which is investigating the question of foreign competition and other causes of the present depression.

Amidst pomp approaching almost that of pre-war Imperial days, Field-Marshal von Hindenburg took the oath of the Republican Constitution in the Reichstag. The proceedings were interrupted by the Communist Deputies, who, after shouting “Down with the Monarchist President,” left the hall.

A Paris telegram announces the death of General Mangin, the famous French soldier.

At the close of the “Little Entente” Conference at Bukharest, statements were made to the Press by the chief delegates, in which reference was made to the situation in Central and Eastern Europe.

Lord Milner’s condition gives rise to grave anxiety.

The King has awarded the Albert Medal to Veladi Sammai, an Indian, who showed great gallantry in saving the life of a British official when the latter was attacked by a tiger.

12 MAY 1925

The Gold Standard Bill was read a second time in the House of Lords.

The Budget resolution imposing the silk Customs duties was carried in the House of Commons by 330 to 166, after Socialist amendments—first, for their postponement until December 1929, and second, for omission of the duty on artificial silk—had been rejected. The Finance Bill was introduced and read a first time.

Questioned in the House of Commons with regard to an American newspaper’s publication of a document purporting to have been written by him and giving official outlines of British policy in Europe, Mr Austen Chamberlain deprecated any official statement as to how far the document was correct or not. He added that no statement of British policy contradicting his declaration in the House on 24 March had any authority whatever.

The Government’s decision to institute an inquiry into systems of disinterested management of licensed premises, including State management at Carlisle and elsewhere, was made known in the House of Commons.

The King and Queen yesterday attended a matinee at the Adelphi Theatre, London, in aid of King George’s Pension Fund for Actors and Actresses.

The Prince of Wales took part in a springbok shoot school.

Mr Baldwin, in a message of sympathy to the Governor-General of New Zealand on the death of Mr Massey, recalled the late Premier’s whole-hearted care for the honour, safety, and well-being of the Empire.

11 MAY 1925

The British Empire Exhibition at Wembley was opened by the King.

The death is announced of Mr Massey, Premier of New Zealand.

In a statement to the French Cabinet with regard to the German proposals for a security pact, M. Briand said that his draft note would not insist on Germany’s entry into the League as a preliminary condition for discussing the project, but the Berlin Government is to be informed that France will decide nothing definitely until this step has been taken.

M. Caillaux’s statement on the French policy, which involves the imposition of new taxation, was unanimously approved by the French Cabinet.

Captain Amundsen has decided to postpone the start of the Polar flight on account of the wintry conditions at Spitsbergen.

Twenty-one lives were lost through the capsizing of an American government steamer conveying excursionists from the Engineering Convention down the Mississippi below Memphis.

Lord Milner’s condition is causing anxiety.

The Hon. Francis John Lascelles, half-brother of the Earl of Harewood, was found dead under tragic circumstances at his residence, Lee House, Romsey, Hampshire.

Rev. Dr John White, Barony Church, Glasgow, made reference to the Church Bill in conducting a jubilee service in Hurlford Parish Church. He said that the chief obstacle to progress of the Union movement in Scotland since the war had been the dilatoriness of Parliament.

Immodesty, lack of parental control, class selfishness, growth of superstition, and abounding pleasure-seeking are among the tendencies deplored by the Committee on Religion, Morals, and Temperance in the report to be submitted to the forthcoming General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland.

10 MAY 1925

It was reported that the health of the Earl of Ypres was declining.

A 99 year old lady was admitted to Winslow workhouse.

Five new justices, including two woman, were appointed to the Highgate Bench.

9 MAY 1925

The Food Commission has issued three reports—one majority, two minority. Their principal recommendation is the establishment of a Food Council, which would maintain a continuing supervision over the staple food trades.

In the House of Commons Mr Rentoul moved second reading of the Representation of the People Act, 1918, Amendment Bill, to provide for the better registration of absent voters. The Home Secretary pointed out that the Act of 1918 said that “any person” could claim to be placed on the absent voters’ list if the registration officer was satisfied that there was a possibility that the claimant, by reason of the nature of his occupation, service, or employment, might be debarred from voting at a Parliamentary election. But he feared that the Bill would operate to circumscribe the law. He would, however, consider whether an Order should be made providing that a man, once on the absent voters’ list, remained on it without repeatedly claiming. The Bill was rejected by 79 to 76.

The Duke of Rutland died suddenly in London.

The death is announced of Lord De Ramsey.

Mr Austen Chamberlain, speaking at the annual dinner of the London Chamber of Commerce, referred to the world’s desire for peace.

Mr Neville Chamberlain, speaking at Birmingham on the Pensions Bill, said it was discreditable and dishonest to try to bamboozle the people with shadows, as the Socialist party was doing to-day.

Mr Lloyd George, speaking in London on the Budget proposals, said he thought Mr Churchill might have used his spare time for the relief of the undoubted pressure on business.

8 MAY 1925

The Agricultural Returns Bill, the Protection of Birds Bill, and the Importation of Animals Bill passed Committee in the House of Lords, and the British Empire Exhibition Guarantee Act and the Administration of Justice Act received the Royal Assent by Commission.

The House of Commons discussed on Report the Budget resolutions recomposing the McKenna Duties, and rejected Opposition amendments directed against those dealing with imported motor cars, musical instruments, clocks and watches, and cinematograph films. The resolutions in respect of Income-tax, Super Tax, Death Duties, and the duty on imported hops were also carried.

Mr H. M. Pollock, Minister of Finance, introduced his Budget in the Parliament of Northern Ireland. It left a balance of £1,723,000 for Imperial Services. The Minister stated that Northern Ireland would act on parallel lines to Great Britain in regard to schemes of social insurance.

Lord Leverhulme is dead.

The death is announced of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick Doveton Sturdee, the victor of the Falkland Islands.

French successes against the Riffs in Morocco are announced.

A statement regarding the recent negotiations between the General Council of the Trades Union Congress and the representatives of the All-Russian Council of Trades Unions was published.

7 MAY 1925

In the House of Lords, the Lord Chancellor announced that the Government proposed, at a convenient time, to introduce legislation to amend the law relating to a husband’s responsibility for his wife’s wrongdoing.

In the House of Commons, a Socialist proposal to reduce the tea duty by one penny per pound was defeated by 306 votes to 151.

Lord Crewe, British Ambassador in Paris, speaking at a dinner given by the Association France–Grande Bretagne, testified from his own experience to the love of peace which animates France. Referring to the international situation, he said he had heard think that, at this hour, the horizon was beginning distinctly to clear.

Mr Austen Chamberlain was the chief guest at the annual dinner of the Institut Français in London. Sir William Ramsay received an honorary degree from the University of Bordeaux.

Mr Baldwin, at the anniversary dinner of the Artists’ General Benevolent Institution, emphasised that these were difficult times for artists, and said it seemed to him as an outsider that an entirely fictitious value had been worked up in the pictures of the day.

Sir Robert Hone, speaking at Reading, referred to the burden imposed upon industry by the proposed impost for social insurance.

A bulletin regarding the Princess Royal stated that Her Royal Highness’s condition gave rise to rather more anxiety during the latter part of Tuesday. After a transfusion of blood there has been definite improvement.

Lord Leverhulme’s condition was reported to be grave.

6 MAY 1925

The British Empire Exhibition Guarantee Bill, which increases the Government guarantee to £1,100,000, passed second reading in the House of Lords after discussion, in which Lord Buckmaster expressed doubt as to the advisability of guaranteeing so large a sum.

The financial resolution for the purposes of the Gold Standard Bill was agreed to in the House of Commons, and the Bill itself passed Committee stage and third reading. Discussion of the Rent Restriction Continuance Bill took place on Report and third reading, and the measure was advanced those stages.

Mr Baldwin, speaking at the Newspaper Society dinner in London, said there was never a time when the production of opinion was more energetic and its free flow more unimpeded, its effectiveness more certain than to-day.

Close by the country churchyard of Gray’s Elegy at Stoke Poges, Viscount Grey of Fallodon accepted for public ownership a large meadow which is the “lea” of the poem, and contains a stone monument to Gray’s memory. In accepting the gift, Viscount Grey said that the Elegy was a perfect work of literary art.

A meeting of members of Convocation at Oxford passed a resolution adopting Lord Milner for the Chancellorship of the University, and pledging support to his candidature. Lord Milner’s health continued to be good.