BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1918, Page 1

BRITISH ELECTIONS.

THE CAMPAIGN OPENED

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LONDON November 17

Hon. Lloyd George, Hon Bonar Law, Hon. J. Barnes, opened the election campaign at a great meeting at Westminster.

Hon. Lloyd George said the new .Parliament, would be the most important ever elected, and on the character of thje Government depended the fate of the United Kingdom and Empire and through the Empire, the fate of the world. Appealing for unity, lie said it does not need a stronger opposition to make a good Government, but a union of tlie best brains and best traditions of every party. Ulie situation in Europe was lull of perilous possibilities. If the new Parliament failed through the lajek of courage, selfish interests, or tactions of politicians then even the institutions of United Kingdom may he swept, away. Britain had been an example for generations to the rest of the world for the steadiness ‘of its Government. I.et us continue the example. A reference to the Throne evoked outbursts of cheering. He said .the Throne hail Avon added respects stability and lustre from the action of its occupant during the "ar. Government must go to the Peace Conference with the authority of the people’s mandate. He mentioned that recruiting statistics revealed a higher percentage of physical unfits in Britain than of any great belligerent . Thai was a disgrace to a proud and pros■perous country. Hundreds of thousands of them had their pride broken by their phvsique because they were underfed, ill-housed, over worked, or perhaps many were poisoned hv excessive drinking to which they were driven by squalor. There must he a real national ebon to put this right. Ho then urged the need of grappling with the housing qu«a tion, Hie maintaining of Avages at a standard where workers strength efficiency would he secured and mothers he enabled properly to discharge their duty of bringing up children, developing the industries and restoring these which had been crippled by unfair competition. These problems required systematic courngous treatment b> pat riots, not partisinns. Ho declared that Labour’s withdrawal from the Coalition Government m the time of national reconstruction was vitally affecting labour and was the height of folly. , i Hon. Bonar Law said we who advocated tariff reforms as part of the issue, realise the war has changed Hie whole aspect of those problems, stood shoulder to shoulder with the Allies in the Avar and must stand shoulder to shoulder with them in repairing the raA’ages of the war. Hon. Barnes regretted the severance, of the Labour Party. Tie was convinced he could serve best by staying in the Government till the country had reached industrial peace.