Tag: 100 Years Ago

26 MARCH 1925

Debate took place in the House of Lords on the question of the reform of that chamber.

In the House of Lords a series of Bills dealing with the consolidation of the law of property passed through Committee. The Trade Facilities Bill and Sugar Subsidy Bill made similar progress.

The House of Commons again discussed the Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions Continuation) Bill, and defeated Mr Wheatley’s amendment for rejection. Captain Garro-Jones’s motion on excessive coal prices was defeated. The Secretary for Mines said the Government would not hesitate to take strong action if they had reason at any time to believe that the merchants were exceeding the limits of reasonable profit.

During the consideration of the Summer Time Bill by a Committee of the House of Commons an attempt was made to exclude Scotland from the provisions.

A Bill to make compulsory the employment of disabled ex-service men has been introduced in the House of Commons.

The funeral service for the Marquis Curzon in Westminster Abbey was attended by representatives of all classes of the community.

A Paris telegram states that Mr Austen Chamberlain’s speech on the question of European security has created a somewhat disappointing impression in France. It is, unfortunately, the case, says the correspondent, that France does not trust Germany’s word.

An Ottawa message gives further particulars of the Canadian Budget statement. Mr Robb, the Acting Finance Minister, stated that the outlook was bright, especially in view of the recovery in the situation of the agricultural industry through the increased prices for products.

25 MARCH 1925

On the second reading of the Consolidated Fund Bill, Mr Austen Chamberlain addressed the House of Commons on the question of European security.

The Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert, with King George and Queen Mary on board, sailed from Leghorn.

The Prince of Wales, speaking as the guest of the South African Luncheon Club in London, said that he hoped during his visit to South Africa to gain a first-hand knowledge of their problems and to see for himself how they were being faced by the two virile peoples who formed that Great Union.

The Prince of Wales made a tour of inspection at Wembley, and expressed the hope that this year’s Exhibition would have great success.

Nominations took place in the Northern Ireland General Election. There were twelve unopposed returns. Polling takes place on 3 April.

24 MARCH 1925

A new crisis has arisen in Egypt owing to the dissolution of parliament, which had been opened only a few hours earlier by King Fuad. The Ziwar Pasha cabinet resigned following the election of Zaghlul Pasha to the presidency of the chamber, but the King declined to accept their resignation.

The King, in a message to Marchioness Curzon, says that the nation will join with him in mourning the loss of a foremost statesman, and will ever gratefully remember the brilliant and manifold services Lord Curzon rendered during his long and active career under three Sovereigns.

Tributes to the late Marquis Curzon were paid in both Houses of Parliament, the House of Lords, of which he was leader, adjourning as a mark of respect.

The Singapore Naval Base scheme was discussed in the House of Commons during the report stage of Navy Estimates. Disapproving of the project, Mr Ramsay MacDonald moved the reduction of the estimate under review. His proposal was rejected by 280 to 129.

Crops have been damaged by the floods in South Africa.

In an air accident in Transcaucasia, three Soviet officials and two pilots were killed. Four days’ mourning has been proclaimed in the Caucasian Republics.

Two British officers have been killed in an aeroplane accident in Waziristan.

The British steamer Massilia went ashore at Wingate Reef, off Port Sudan. The passengers were safely taken off.

23 MARCH 1925

M. Herriot had conversations on the security problem with Lord Crewe, British Ambassador in Paris, and M. de Fleurian, French Ambassador in London.

The Cape-Natal Express fell into the river near Harishill. The accident was due to the collapse of the bridge over the river at this point. The driver and the fireman and several natives lost their lives.

In the Indian Legislative Assembly Sir Alexander Muddiman, the leader of the House, said that India owed the late Lord Curzon a great debt of gratitude for bringing to a triumphant issue his policy regarding the memorials of India’s great and varied history. Sir Frederick Whyte, President of the Assembly, associated himself with the tribute paid by Sir Alexander Muddiman.

The Government resolution approving of the contract with Sir Wm. Petersen to establish and operate a steamship service in the North Atlantic was passed by the Canadian House of Commons. It was later referred to a Special Committee of Investigation, who will report on the matter.

Another earthquake shock has been felt in the Quebec district, but no damage is reported.

The personnel of the British delegation to the Empire Press Conference to be held in Australia in the autumn is announced.

A new famine is spreading all over Soviet Russia.

The sixth anniversary of the foundation of Fascism was celebrated in Italy. Signor Mussolini made his first public appearance in Rome since his illness, and was enthusiastically acclaimed.

22 MARCH 1925

There was concern for the health of the Earl of Ypres following a serious operation.

The Cabinet was expected to announce its plan for reform of the House of Lords.

21 MARCH 1925

20 MARCH 1925

The death-roll in the Southern Illinois tornado is put, in the latest accounts, at about 1000, the number of injured at 2500, and the homeless at 10,000.

The First Lord of the Admiralty, in submitting the Navy Estimates to the House of Commons, dealt at length with the Singapore base scheme, and gave figures of cost under main heads. He emphasised the purely defensive character and purpose of the project. To talk of the British naval programme as provocative was, he said, sheer nonsense. Out of 352 warships building or projected our contribution was 20 ships.

The British Sugar Subsidy Bill was brought from the Commons and read a first time in the House of Lords. A first reading was given to the Government of India Civil Service Bill, introduced by Lord Birkenhead. The Therapeutic Substances Bill and the Merchant Shipping Equivalent Provisions Bill were read a third time.

Lord Curzon’s condition has become worse.

The Earl of Ypres (formerly Sir John French) underwent a serious operation in London.

The death is announced of Sir George Donaldson, a well-known musical amateur and art patron.

19 MARCH 1925

Attention having been called in the House of Lords to the demoralisation resulting from juvenile unemployment, Viscount Peel stated that the Government was considering a proposal to empower Local Authorities to compel attendance between the ages of 14 and 16 at juvenile unemployment centres in areas where the central authority was satisfied unemployment of this kind was sufficient to justify the step.

The British Sugar Subsidy Bill passed third reading in the House of Commons by 346 to 56. The Former Enemy Aliens Bill was read a second time and the financial resolution for the Church of Scotland Property and Endowments Bill passed Report stage.

The Glasgow Boundaries Bill was read a second time in the House of Commons by a majority of 118.

A cyclone in Southern Illinois has caused serious loss of life.

Thirty-three men were entombed in a coal mine at Fairmont, West Virginia, United States, as a result of a terrific explosion.

A great fire in the northern section of Tokio has destroyed 3000 buildings. Twenty thousand people are homeless.

Trujillo, the third largest city of Peru, is reported to have been destroyed by floods.

On the question of North Atlantic shipping fares the Canadian Premier stated in the Dominion House of Commons that the Government’s decision finally to take action was reached long before the Preston report was made. The same subsidy as that given to the Petersen lines would be granted to other Companies if they would submit to control of rates by the Government. If the scheme succeeded, he predicted, it would not be long before other parts of the Empire joined in a common effort to reduce rates.

The King and Queen leave London for their Mediterranean trip to-day.

18 MARCH 1925

17 MARCH 1925

Mr Austen Chamberlain discussed the security question with M. Herriot, the French Premier, in Paris.

The chief topic discussed on the Army Estimates in the House of Commons was the obstacle raised to recruiting for the Supplementary Reserve by two large Trade Unions apprehensive of the use to which the Reserve might be put in the event of industrial disputes.

The War Office announces that it has been decided to reintroduce forthwith Section A of the Army Reserve.

The King and Queen are leaving London on Thursday morning for Genoa, where they will embark on the Royal yacht.

It is officially announced that Prince George underwent an operation for enucleation of tonsils. The condition of His Royal Highness is satisfactory.

Mr Cosgrave, in a St Patrick’s Day message to the Irish peoples in America, says the Government of the Irish Free State recently received from the people a further endorsement of their satisfaction with the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty.