POSSIBILITY OF EARLY ELECTION

Chronicle (Levin), 22 September 1949, Page 5

POSSIBILITY OF EARLY ELECTION

(N.Z.P.4-

—Reuter,

, Copyrigjit)

Received Thursday, 9.40 a.m.' LONDON, Sept. 21. Devaluation has sterted a fresh wave of political speculation on the possibility of a' general election in November, but Labour quarters do not uphold the suggestion, which many Government supporters ascri^e to wisb.f'ul thinking in the Opposition camp, says Reuter's political coi-respondent.

The Government would have to be convinced ' that a fresh mandate was called for following .de.valuation before it scrapped its long-standing schedule which times the general election for the mi'ddle of 1950. Ominous rumblings on the political labour side have follp'wed the news of dearer bread and the possibility of other increases in living costs. Many observers believe that if there 'is serious evidence of a loss of confidence on the labour side and in the country generally, the Government would say "let the country decide now." Informed Government quarters admit that the Conservative election machine is better prepared than Labour for an immedia'te election, as all Ldbour plans "are based on April next as the earliest. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Stafford Cripps, will meet the T.U.C. executive committee next Mondav to discuss devaluation. Sir Stafford will be told that the main points of criticism are the increased bread price, which will affeci a great numb.er of lower paid workers, and the other price increases which are certain to come gradually will add to the biirden. Some degree of unemployment is a possible consequence in due course.