ELECTION IN BRITAIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 108, 20 February 1950, Page 3

ELECTION IN BRITAIN

DOMESTIC ISSUES PARAMOUNT PRESS VIEWS OF CAMPAIGN (N.Z.P. A.—Copyright) - LONDON, February IS. “Contrary to expectations, the General Election campaign has not become more lively in its second week,” says the “Sunday Times.” “With rare excetpions, the experience of constituencies in all parts of the country is that this is the gentlest and most unobtrusive election' in livingmemory.

“This should not be taken as in dicating lack of interest. Meetings are being well attended, but in the main, the audiences- listen quietly. Qdestion time reveals, however, that silence does not necessarily mean consent. .

“Attention still concentrates on domestic issues with .the high cost of living, taxation, housing and food talcing preference. Nationalisation continues .to remain most surprisingly in the background. “Mr Churchill’s proposal for a highlevel meeting with Mr Stalin appears to have provoked a large number of questions, but has not had the effect of making foreign affairs a matter of serious interest.” Reuter says: “A nation-wide survey of the opinions of local newspaper editors shows that the Conservative Party will win the election with a small majority. The Labour Party will lose 100 seats in the House of Commons. “The editors predicted that the new House of Commons would include 292 Conservatives, 279 Labour members, 10 Liberals, 11 Communists, and one Irish anti-partitionist.” '■

Mr Bevin’s Opinions

The Foreign Secretary (Mr Ernest Bevin), before starting a tour of his constituency, East Woolwich, said that the Labour Party’s prospects “looked very healthy,” but he would not risk a prophecy on the result. Mr Bevin added: “I think counting chickens before they are hatched is not too good. Labour supporters must go all out for victory, and not indulge in wishful thinking.” A Conservative candidate, Mr Beverley Baxter, said at Wembley: “The election campaign started on issues that were local to the point of being parochial.. It is ending with a policy of Empire unity dominating minds and stimulating people’s imagination. “Sir Stafford Cripps is going to havelas wish—but in reverse. The freeenterprise British Empire is about to liquidate the Socialist Party.” The Lord President of .the Council (Mr Herbert Morrison), speaking at Portsmouth, criticised the London 'Stock Exchange for “irresponsible, flippant fooling about with politics” and “damaging its own standing, the country’s credit and the people’s investments” through the influence of election forecasts. .

“Stock Exchange movements affect the investments of all sorts of people, including widows and people with limited pensions who have to eke out an . existence partly on their investments,” Mr Morrison said. “tl is a great pity that the stock exchange should fool about with politics, which three-quarters of its members do not understand anyway. I urge them not to allow political straws to affect investments.”

A well-known economist, Mr Roy. Harrod, speaking in support of the Conservative P-arty at Northwich, Cheshire, said that the Labour Government’s argument with Australia over petrol was the most significant economic event in recent months. He continued: “It is a foretaste of what the Socialists will try with much greater intensity throughout the sterling area as they run short of dollars, and when their gold reserves are near exhaustion. This will mean the end of the British Empire. It will break loose from us and manage its own reserves.”

TORIES IN THE LEAD PUBLIC OPINION POLL (Rec. 10.0 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 19. A poll of public opinion shows that the Tories have gained the lead in public favour* says the “Daily Express.” They are now one and a half points ahead of the Socialists after being level with them a week ago. The poll, taken in the seven days ended February 16, included Edinburgh and the declaration by Mr Churchill on the atom bomb, but most of the answers were given before his speech.