EVE OF BATTLE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18217, 30 October 1924, Page 9

EVE OF BATTLE.

BRITISH ELECTION.

PROPHECY DIFFICULT.

REVISED PARTY ESTIMATES..

(BT CABLE—PKESS ASSOCIATIOS— COrTHJGBT iACSTBAUA.N - A.tl> K. 7.. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received October 20th, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, October 23. The eve of polling was signalised by a final outburst of speeches, leaders indulging in frantic motor-car rusher through tiie industrial centres. Mr Baldwin concluded his tour in Oldham. He said he was confident the Conservatives would do splendidly in Lancashire. It is reported from a number of constituencies that the Liberal leaders are giving eleventh-hour advice to" vote Conservative where there is a straight fight against a Socialist. Mr Mac Donald is suffering from an overplus of electioneering, causing insomnia. He went to bed after a speech iu Aberavon at noon. lie makes his final speech this evening. Addressing 3000 people at Aberavon thi3 morning, the Premier claimed that the Government had handled the socalled "Red" plot in an efficient and businesslike way, and had nothing to be ashamed of. The plot had been thwarted.

Arrangements have been made throughout the country to distribute the results of- polling to-morrow night and Thursday morning, the means including wireless broadcasting, and lanterns and screens iu the streets. Many huge loud-speakers trill be craplo} r ed. Experts at party headquarters are busy to-day cheeking and revising their estimates of results. It is admitted everywhere that prophecy is more difficult than for many years past, largely owing to the fact that the effects of tho Zinovieff letter cannot bo estimated. Labourites insist that its results will be negligible, while Conservatives and Liberals assert that reports indicate the affair is causing loss of votes to Labour in all parts of the country. Tho "Daily Express" gives the following estimates of results made tonight by the various party headquarters: — Conservative Estimate. Conservatives . • 311 Labour .. .. 205 Liberals .. • • 93 Others .. •. 6 Labour Estimate. Conservatives . • 290 Labour .. .. 235 Liberals .. .. 85 Others .. •. 5. Liberal Estimate. Conservatives •. 291 Labour .. . • 195 Liberal .. •. 124 Others <« • • 5 No estimate gives a singlo party a clear working majority. After the general election last year the state of parties was: — Conservatives .. 258 Labour .. . 191 Liberals .. .. 158 Others . • •. 8 The present Speaker (Rt. Hon. J. H. Whitley) iB a Liberal, so, assuming that he be re-elected to tho chair, tho Conservative Party's estimate would give it a majority ox eight votes in a full House. But the division lists show that the Commons do not usually muster anything like a full House, and eight cannot be regarded as a working majority. THE ISSUE STATED. NEVER A MORE UNCERTAIN ELECTION. (AUSTRALIA!? AXD H.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Eeceivcd October 29th, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, Octobor 29. The leaders of all parties made their final speeches last night. There is no new development, except a "Daily Herald" statement that the Foreign Office never had either the original or a photograph of the Zinovieff letter, bnt only a typewritten copy purporting to be a copy of tho original letter. Mr Balwwin, at Bolton, defined the ojjjy issue to be whether the country would have a Government pledged to Socialism, or preferred to continue the natural evolution of its social system. The "Morning Post" says the choice resolves itself into: Union Jack or Red Flag? Tho "Daily Chronicle" says there never was an election in which there was less certainty on the eve o£ the poll regarding the prospects of parties. Lloyd's election rates are unchanged. SHAKY SEATS. MISS BONDFIELD MAY GO. (ADSTIAUAK AKD *.*. CABtX ASSOCIATION.) (Received October 2ttth, 10.45 p.m.) l/ONIX>N, October 29. The "Daily Jtixpress" states the Conservatives expect few gains in London, but believe their greatest successes will occur in Lancashire, the Midlands, and the Home Counties. Labour is expecting live gains in Scotland and 10 in London. Among the Ministers likeliest to be casualties are Mr J. R. Clynes (Deputy Leader of the House) and Miss Margaret Bondfield "(Under-Secretary for Labour). (Continued at foot of next column.)

CABINET WILL FACE HOUSE. (AtrSTBJkLUS JISD X.Z. Ci.BL* ASSOCIATION) LONDON, October 2SMr Mac Donald is indisposed. He was unable to address a meeting at Derby. Mr J. H. Thomas (Secretary of State for the Colonies) in predicting that Labour would return stronger than ever, said that the Labour Cabinet ■would not resign as a result of th>' election. It would face Parliament and present the King's Speech, in which Labour's policy would be set out. "Those Democrats," he said, "those progressive people, will be obliged to face Parliament and go into the lobby, when not only will they be obliged to say they are turning us out. but also who they are putting i'i ia our place. That will be a very interesting division." MR BALDWIN AND PROTECTION. (STDSET "Srs"'' Sebvice... LONDON. October, 2S. Mr Baldwin has given a plcdg£ that he will not introduce Protection until he has received the country's verdictin favour. ______