Tag: 100 Years Ago

24 FEBRUARY 1925

A vote of £2,096,000 for the Ministry of Pensions was passed by the House of Commons. There was some criticism of hardship suffered under the policy of final awards, but the Minister of Pensions resisted a suggestion that the question should be reopened by an impartial Commission. A supplementary estimate of £1,250,000 for a grant in aid of the Government of Northern Ireland was agreed to after considerable discussion.

The Prime Minister stated in the House of Commons that in Japanese official and other well-informed circles it was realised that the improvement of the Singapore dockyard by Britain was a normal development of Naval policy. The two countries were firmly united, added Mr Baldwin, by common interests in the preservation of peace.

Austen Chamberlain stated in the House of Commons, in reply to a question, that the British Government would not send an Ambassador to Moscow under present circumstances.

The King’s medical attendants saw His Majesty last evening, but issued no bulletin. It is understood that His Majesty’s satisfactory, though slow, progress continues.

A Berlin telegram announces the serious illness of President Ebert.

A deputation which was arranged by the Convention of Royal Burghs waited upon the Prime Minister and urged the desirability of raising the status of the office of Secretary for Scotland. According to an official report of the proceedings, the Prime Minister said that he viewed sympathetically the case which had been put forward, and promised to examine the subject without delay.

23 FEBRUARY 1925

According to the latest bulletin regarding the King, “the slow progress continues.” In order to secure complete restoration and fitness, the King’s medical attendants advise, when the stage of convalescence has been reached, that His Majesty should proceed to the south of Europe and cruise in his yacht for a few weeks.

Austen Chamberlain, when on his way to Geneva early next month for the meeting of the Council of the League of Nations, will have an interview with M. Herriot in Paris. He will discuss with the French Premier the report on German disarmament.

David Lloyd George is confined to bed in a Birmingham hotel suffering from a feverish cold. He was returning from Walsall when he developed a temperature, and the journey to London had to be postponed.

David Lloyd George, speaking in Walsall, asked representatives of the Conservative party or the Labour party to point out one plan introduced by them which had not been initiated by Dr Macnamara, Liberal candidate in the Walsall by-election.

Messages have been received from the Earl of Oxford and Asquith and other prominent members of the Liberal party by Dr Macnamara, Liberal candidate in the Walsall by-election.

Describing the visit of the Trade Union delegation to Russia, Mr John Bromley, M.P., said that there was neither free speech nor a free Press, but the working people were dictating to everyone else, as they were dictated to for so many years. There were rest houses for workers, prisoners were paid Trade Union rates for their work, while tickets for the opera were issued to the workers.

The text has been issued of Mr Macquisten’s Trade Union (Political Fund) Bill, which seeks to repeal certain sections of the Trade Union Act of 1913.

22 FEBRUARY 1925

London County Council was asked to report on the practicability of linking up tramways in central London by shallow subways taking double-deck cars.

It was confirmed that no formal meeting had yet been made for a meeting between Austen Chamberlain and M. Herriot in Paris.

21 FEBRUARY 1925

Yesterday’s bulletin in regard to the King’s illness stated that in spite of a somewhat restless night, His Majesty was making slow progress.

A private member’s Bill designed to remove the restrictions of the 1918 Act and to grant women the franchise at 21 years of age, as in the case of men, was rejected in the House of Commons by 220 votes to 153.

The Earl of Oxford and Asquith, speaking at Manchester Reform Club, said it was a caricature of representation that a party which had polled three million votes should have only some forty members in Parliament. He criticised the Government’s plans for the safeguarding of industries.

Mr Ramsay MacDonald, speaking at Swindon, referred to the Clydeside opposition to the payment of expenses in connection with the Prince of Wales’s tour, and said they were not going to cure the cause of the poor widow by being mean, small-minded, and petty.

Mr Clynes, speaking at Hornchurch, referring to the visit of the Prince of Wales to South Africa, said it was as right for Parliament to vote public money for it as to vote money for the railway expenses of M.P.’s between Westminster and their constituencies.

The Prince of Wales, the Prime Minister, and several members of the Cabinet attended the annual Civil Service dinner in London.

In the Prussian Diet a vote of confidence in the new Marx Cabinet was rejected by 221 to 215 votes, and the Government resigned. There were scenes of uproar in the Diet when Herr Heilmann, a Socialist Deputy, charged leading members of the Right parties with acts of corruption.

20 FEBRUARY 1925

Yesterday’s bulletin regarding the King stated that progress, though slow, was satisfactory.

Progress was made with a number of measures in the House of Commons, including a Bill in respect of land purchase in Northern Ireland and the London Electricity Bill.

The Air Estimates for the coming financial year, amounting to £15,809,762, have been issued.

In the annual report on the British Army it is stated that, although the quality of the recruits has been maintained at a high standard, the physique of the youth of the nation has not yet recovered from the effects of war and post-war conditions; consequently during the year no fewer than 49,000 candidates for enlistment were rejected.

The Second Opium Conference at Geneva closed with the signing of an important Convention, which, in the view of M. Zahle, Denmark, the president, while not solving all the problems the Conference had to face, deals a blow at the drug evil.

Little progress was made at the Conference between the Council of the Mining Association and the full Executive of the Miners’ Federation. Mr Evan Williams emphasised the seriousness of the situation. Several Welsh collieries have shut down, and others are likely to follow.

At the Food Commission inquiry the evidence concerned the refusing of supplies of flour by millers to bakers who undercut the normal ruling price of bread.

Glasgow Town Council, despite the protests of the Socialist members, decided to confer the freedom of the city on Prince Henry on May 2.

19 FEBRUARY 1925

It is stated authoritatively that the King’s attack of bronchitis is pursuing a satisfactory course.

In the House of Lords it was stated that the number of telephones installed by the Post Office now averages about 1700 a month.

Sir John Gilmour, replying to questions in the House of Commons regarding the Clydebank evictions, said it was his desire and hope that moderate courses might be adopted on both sides until the Commission had completed its inquiries, and there had been reasonable opportunity of considering its report.

The second reading of the British Sugar Subsidy Bill was passed in the House of Commons. The Minister of Agriculture said the growing of beet was important from the point of view of employment and labour. Mr William Graham said his party would, in Committee, press for some form of Government control and ownership in this scheme.

Mr Preston, Unionist candidate for Walsall, has received a message from Mr Baldwin, in which he says that the menace of Socialism is ever present, and it is of paramount importance that Walsall should show at the election the continued firmness of the electorate that there shall be a long period of sound and constitutional government.

Sir L. Worthington Evans, Secretary for War, replying to a deputation on the question of the reconstruction of the Militia, undertook that the views presented to him would receive careful consideration.

The Food Commission heard evidence from several housewives, as well as on behalf of the Trade Union Congress. In the case of the latter, Sir Auckland Geddes expressed his disappointment at the small amount of help they had obtained from them.

18 FEBRUARY 1925

An official bulletin states that the King is suffering from bronchitis, due to influenza. His Majesty had a restless night on Monday, but his general condition is satisfactory.

The Earl of Oxford and Asquith took his seat in the House of Lords, the stately ceremony attracting considerable public interest.

The employment of disabled ex-Service men was discussed on a private member’s resolution in the House of Commons, and the Government was urged by members on both sides of the House to make further efforts to get industries interested in the employment of disabled men, and to get more firms on the King’s Roll.

The rotor ship Buckau docked at Grangemouth at the conclusion of her test voyage across the North Sea.

The French Cardinals have addressed a letter to M. Herriot protesting against the proposed withdrawal of the French Embassy to the Vatican.

A crisis has arisen in the Czecho-Slovakian Cabinet over the question of Church and State.

Russian Communists are alarmed at the seed shortage. The crop outlook is serious.

During evictions at Clydebank the police were stoned, and three arrests were made.

17 FEBRUARY 1925

The government’s proposals regarding safeguarding industries were discussed in the House of Commons, where a resolution of condemnation, moved by Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, was defeated by 335 to 146. The Prime Minister, in the course of the debate, denied that the method now proposed would be used as a means of bringing in Protection. He abided in perfect loyalty to the decision of the country.

With regard to the financial restoration of Franco, M. Herriot, speaking in the Chamber, said the government’s policy was a policy of a healthy currency, which alone would reduce the high cost of living and give France the necessary authority in international councils. He announced the suppression of the inquisitorial bordereau de coupons, and stated that the signature of an affidavit at French Consulates by holders of French bearer securities abroad would likewise be abolished.

The King is suffering from a feverish cold.

The report of the expert Commission which inquired into the condition of St. Paul’s cathedral is published. It states that no settlement of the foundations is taking place at the present time, but that building operations in the vicinity might alter the condition of the subsoil. The cracks and fissures in the masonry do not jeopardise the integrity of the dome structure, while any attempt to rebuild the piers would inevitably affect the foundations. Recommendations are made of necessary work to strengthen the piers and the dome.

In an interview on his return to London, Sir Robert Horne gave his impressions of his business tour in Burmah and India.

16 FEBRUARY 1925

There is fresh talk of a security pact which, beginning with the inclusion of France and Britain and the States on Germany’s frontiers, might be extended to include the Reich itself under pledge of non-aggression and in receipt of a guarantee for the protection of her eastern frontier.

In the House of Commons today there will be a debate on the Government’s policy in regard to the safeguarding of industries.

David Lloyd George, addressing a meeting of the Welsh National Liberal Federation at Newport, Mon., advocated the value of the roll of honour, to which, he said, there was the same glory in giving the mite as in giving a thousand pounds.

Mrs Philip Snowden, on her return from Canada, repeated her conviction that the late Government were the victims of the worst political leadership of modern times. She also criticised the Clyde group of Socialists, in reference to the attack on the vote for the Prince of Wales’s tour.

Me A. J. COOK, general secretary of the Miners’ Federation, speaking at Llanelly, made a violent attack on Mr Frank Hodges.

In the Walsall by-election the three candidates are prepared for great activity in the campaign proper, which begins this week. The Unionist candidate, Mr Preston, has much improved in health.

In the King’s replies to the addresses of Convocation mention is made of the housing problem and the necessity of increasing existing building resources.

15 FEBRUARY 1925

It was announced that between the years 1921 and 1923 that at least 590 children had been killed in the streets of Greater London.

It was announced that the Dowager Marchioness of Tweedale had died in London.