Parliament's Week

(British Commonwealth of Nations)

House of Lords. Lord Buckmaster's Divorce Bill passed its second reading in the Lords. Four years ago the Lords twice approved this measure, but it was killed by the Commons. Opponents and advocates of the bill are concentrating to bring the matter before the Commons. The Government's attitude is not known. At present British divorce laws permit a husband to divorce his wife for infidelity; a wife can obtain a divorce from her husband only if she can prove infidelity coupled with

cruelty. The new measure would extend the grounds for divorce to include: desertion for three years, cruelty, habitual drunkenness, insanity, life imprisonment.

House of Commons. The Labor Ministry in Parliament takes frequent falls, but it goes on. It suffered defeat, 221 to 212, on the question of a Rent Bill. As a sop to its left wing, the "Clydesiders," the Ministry proposed a clause whereby no tenant could be evicted for nonpayment of rent, provided he could show that he was unable to pay because of unemployment. The Liberals joined the conservatives in denouncing this clause as "Socialism" and "confiscation." The Government would have met defeat at that point, but John R. Clynes filibustered until the House was obliged to adjourn for the day./-

At the next meeting the Ministry proposed an amendment to the bill which placed the burden of paying the rent of unemployed tenants on the local poor authorities. Liberal and Conservative leaders begged the Ministry to withdraw the refusal. It refused. A vote was taken. Some of the Liberals did not vote. Others joined the Conservatives in opposing the measure, and the Ministry was defeated.

P:British Laborites want to revolutionize British Army discipline. A little group of "conshies," pacifists and Communists proposed revolutionary amendments to the Army and Air Force appropriation bills. Stephen Walsh, Secretary of War, promised that the Army Council would investigate all the questions raised. The amendments were then snowed under: 1) Proposal to abolish the death penalty for desertion, cowardice and similar offenses in war time, by a vote of 239 to 120; 2) Proposal to give a condemned soldier right of appeal to a civil court, by a vote of 193 to 120; 2) Proposal that a holdier, upon enlistment, may choose to refuse duty if called to aid the civil power in connection with a trade dispute, strike, etc., by a vote of 236 to 67.

/-That the Labor Ministry had a close shave on the Rent Bill was admitted in an exchange of pleasantries that night, at the National Gallery Centenary Dinner, between the Premier and Lord Curzon, die-hard ex-Foreign Minister.

"I am not certain whether he is not in peril this very night," said Marquess Curzon.

"It is over," said Mr. MacDonald, in a mock tragic whisper.

Lord Curzon, aloud, amidst laughter: "Oh, it's over."

Mr. MacDonald, still whispering: "I have got through."

Lord Curzon: "And he has got through. Well, so much the better. He has survived, to my political sorrow, but artistic delight."