CONSERVATIVES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19163, 21 November 1927, Page 9

CONSERVATIVES.

v CONFERENCE AT CARDIFF. PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH. Craou oua own correspondent.) LONDON, October 8. An optimistic survey of British industry was the most prominent feature of Mr Baldwin's speech to the delegates of the Conservative Party Conference in Cardiff. He touched on Britain's growing exports, our growing coal production and sale, and the hopeful co-operative scheme of rebates in the steel industry, ! co-operation in the woollen trade, and improvements in shipbuilding. Unemployment, loss of revenue, higher rates, a check on the expansion of social services, physical damage to the race, he said, were all part of the price they had to pay for the coal stoppage. For that reason he hoped the new note struck at the Trades Union Congress would be sustained, and the attempt to damp down the fires of agitation continued. If the conditions of the country permitted he would welcome a general election to-morrow, but, as a sporting opponent, he would prefer to refrain from an election for another year until Labour had had a chance of whipping up more opposition to the Trade Disputes. Act. The, Prime Minister made it clear that in any move for peace in industry the Government would take no direct part, though it would watch with interest and sympathy and give any assistance if asked to do so by both sides. In that connexion employers of labour could not nowadays divest themselves of the responsibilities of leadership. The condition of the agricultural industry was causing the Government grave concern, but the Government could have no control over or responsibility for the bad times through which the farmers were passing. Pessimism nover helped anybody, and the recent Press campaign had not assisted agriculture. v House of Lords. In the latter .part of his speech Mr Baldwin turned to the reform of the House of Lords. He described the proposals outlined by Lord Cave as '' sketch proposals for consideration and ventilation." He promised that the Government would welcome any collective and lightened criticism, and, having considered it, they would announce the'ir decision later in the year. There was' no subject more difficult, but the Cabinet Committee on Economy was again going through every estimate this year. He quoted figures to show how difficult it is to make sweeping reductions, particularly when the defence forces were being cut down nearly to the limits of safety. Franchise for Women. On the subject of votes for women at 21, Mr Baldwin said: "I have never wavered in my own view. Even if you desire —which I do not—you cannot go back on the pledges given by Mr Bonar Law and myself. The time to complain was when Mr Bonar Law declared himself in favour of equal franchise. To pretend that equal franchise means anything but equal franchise at 21 is to delude yourself and make that fatal ■ mistake on the part of Tories who try to score by being clever." When discussion took place on the subject, the delegates by a considerable majority decided to support the Government in giving the franchise to women on the same terms as men.