CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1922, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

BRITISH POLITICS. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. ELECTION CAMPAIGN. LONDON, Oct 28. In the general election campaign, though there is no definite pact between the Conservatives and the National (Georgian) Liberals, an increasing number of local Conservative organisations where no Conservative candidates are standing are agreeing to support the Lloyd George candidates against the Independent Liberals, or against Ltibour, provided that they give the new Government general support. Such agreements both Mr Bonar Law and Mr Lloyd George approve. Such agreements, have been made already in 17 constituencies, including those of Rt. Hons Churchill, Kellaway, and MacNamara. The other contesting local Conservative associations arc protesting to the Headquarters against the arrangement. and they will oppose any attempt to force them to adopt it. Mr Lloyd George’s candidates total only 155, whereof four are women. Doctor Bayles, an Imperial Conservative is opposing Lady Astor for Plymouth. He has issued a writ for libel against Lord Astor. Six* of the Liberal candidates for Leeds, some of whom are followers of Lloyd George and some are Independent, have joined forces, and are issuing a joint manifesto.

FRENCH PRESS ON BRITISH ELECTION. PARIS, Oet 27. The French press is showing unprecedented interest in the British election, and unanimously welcome Mr Bonar Law’s policy statement, and express the belief that this gives a high hope of overcoming the Anglo-French misunderstanding, England will again adopt her traditional attitude of sincerity and prudence, with no further adventurers, sudden changes, war-like speeches, or threatening gestures.

MR CHAMBERLAIN’S ADDRESS LONDON, October 28.

lit Hon \. Chamberlain, addressing his constituents of West Birmingham said: “Ten days ago I was the leader cf the Unionist Party. Now I an) a •soldier in its ranks. I have served the Party in Parliament for thirty years, but party as party has never been a major matter for me. My duty to my country has been my chief end. It was only 'because party differences were forgotten that the national unity was preserved and the victory, was won. No difference of principle led to the end of the Coalition, Though the Government had become less popular. yet as 1 had shared Mr Lloyd George’s responsibilities, I could not, as a man of honour, tell him that liis room was preferable to his company. I have co-operated with Mr Bonar Law before and I could do so again.” Mr Chamberlain, in an election address, said: “No difference in principle separates me from the Unionist Party, and 1 hope to give Mr Bonar Law the same support that I should expect from him.” LONDON. October 28. Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George, when travelling to Glasgow, to reply to Mr • Bonar Law’s speech, addressed crowds at the railway stations wherever . his train stopped, including Crewe, where Severn Itliousand people on the platrerm sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” LLOYD GEORGE’S REPLY. CAMPAIGN SPEECH AT GLASGOW LONDON, October 28. Five thousand people at St Andrews Hall, Glasgow, welcomed Mr Lloyd George when 4>e came to reply to the new Premier. He was supported by Lord Birkenhead, Sir Robert Horne, and Lord Weir. Mr Lloyd George had a rousing reception, the audience Using and singing “Land of our Fathers.” Mr Lloyd George complained of “the wanton act of sabotage of the Carlton Club which smashed the Coalition.” He said he was perplexed as to why this had been done. He. thought that the nation was also perplexed too. A party split was to he explained by an explosive reason, which went deep into the hearts of people, hut there was nothing of this kind here. Mr Bonar Law’s explanation had now baffled him. Further Mr Bonar Law had not arraigned tile policy or the administration of the last government. The only justification for having shattered a. great combination was the removal of the Cabinet Secretariat from Whitehall Gardens to the Treasury Chambers and the abolition of the Pensions Ministry.

“The Tory Party want to get rid of me,” he said, “because I always want to get a move on. They want to lie down in a negative attitude. In golfing language, the Tories say that I. am excellent at getting the ball out of the rough, but on the green I am too energetic. But is the nation rcally out of the rough. The “Die-hards” are not the only people who are calling for a change. The Labour manifesto is a formidable challenge'. This is no time for moderate men'to fall out. The situniton in the country demands the dir< ction of the ablest men available. Even the best friends of the new Government won’t compare them with the men they have supplanted in achievement, experience, and talent. I don’t like this negative pose, particularly in view of tile unemployment. Far better if the followers of Mr Bonar Law had gone in with minds active and e.ves open, instead of folded arms and drowsy eyes. It is said “The nation is tired, let it go to bed,” hut that is not the way to get through our troubles. It will he impossible to maintain a negative pose, which will feed despair, and despair is dangerous. The world war was won by co-opera-tion, and I do not say that, that cooperation is to be brought to an end. We must all take care that we don’t convert the wretchedness of our unemployed into' recklessness. Europe, too, is in rags. Not even a magic carpet woven of worlds, will carry the devastated areas to sunny unburdened lands beyond.”

Mr Lloyd George concluded: —“As an old mariner who has weathered many gales, T utter this warning: There is a worse hurricane coming - from another quarter! You really don’t know the worst. I appeal to all not to endanger this glorious old ship ly quarrels as to which officer shall be on the bridge.”

Lord Birkenhead said:—-“No doubt Mr Bonar Law is fully adequate to the burdens of a Prime Minister, but. the men by whom he is surrounded are not. It is useless trying to deal with first class problems with second class brains. MB ASQUITH’S SPEECH.. LONDON, October 29. Rt Hon. H. H. Asquith, speaking at Peterborough, said that some months ago the Coalition was tossing on a sickbed, but nobody had anticipated such speedy release from its sufferings. They had to-day the unusual spectacle of the two authors of its being writing rival epitaphs for its tomb. The truth, he said was that the Coalition had fallen into disrepute at home and abroad. It was not either in Belgravia, or the Carlton Club but in Downing Street, that it met its fate. The Liberal policy, said Mr Asquith was plain enough. The Labour manifesto was clean cut and understandable. But when it came to the disjointed fragments of the late Coalition things were quite different. Both sections of the Coalition bad been turned out of the stable to seek fresh pastures, but, though parted, for the moment, they still neighed wistfully over the palings. They knew little about Mr Lloyd George’s policy, beyond that he now was for the sternest economy. How refreshing that was! Mr Bonar Law’s policy, where it was not negative, was gelatinous. The ‘Liberals, since the war, had preached economy, and they would continue to preach it. They had lew in numbers, and they were as voices crying in the wilderness having been derided in debate ond overwhelmed m the division lobbies. MR CHURCHILL’S MESSAGE. LONDON, October 28. Rt. Hon. Winston Churchill, in a message to the Dundee Liberal Association says: “When I think of the gravity of the hour, and of its measureless uncertainties, 1 maivel at the temerity and the presumption which has. squandered so many friendly forces, . and stripped the State of so much so- j viccahlc experience. The House of Commons’ autlioriy has, to no small extent, been slighted in the composition of the new Government. It would lie dangerous if Lord Corson or Lord Salisbury tried to execute schemes for tile creating of a brand new House of Lords, tilled with “superior’’ persons in older to re-cstabli.sh the House of Isolds veto over the House of Commons. My attitude towards the present Government must he one of free- ) doll), and of reserve. That does not mean that I shall confront it with factiotis opposition.” He continues:—“The new Preniiei declared a policy which is virtually identical with that which w e have pursued in every sphere. If the new Ministers avoid reactionary courses,- they should be accorded all reasonable facilities."

“The situation does not demand a Centre Party. I ask you to adopt me simply as a Liberal and as a Free Trader, supporting Mr Lloyd George.” He continues: —“I wish to conduct my candidature so to make our Unionist friends at Dundee feel that in supporting two Liberal candidates they are safeguarding the essential principles whereon the stability ol British society depends. We cannot afford to be divided on minor issues, when the accumulated greatness of the British realm is challenged by a predatory, confiscatory, socialist programme.

It is suggested that I have a special responsibility in regard to the Empire’s commitments in Mesopotamia and in Palestine, and that the leaders of the new Government are free of such responsibility. Such a suggestion is exactly contrary to the truth. Mr Honor j Law and Lord Curzon were both members of the War Cabinet when those | commitments were undertaken. I came j info the Middle Eastern business <■!'- fectively only at the beginning of 1021. | T have succeeded in reducing the ex- 1 yenditure there frem £45,000,000 to 1 £II.OOO-000 and 1 could make plans tti reduce it to less than £0.000.000 next year. i MR GARVIN EXPLAINS. j LION DON, October 28. ' Mr Garvin in an article in the “Observer” explaining the collapse of the Coalition, states there is no community and never has been, where domestic interests aie so profundly influenced by the success or inadequacy of our statesmanship in foreign and imperial affairsfi but differences within tile Coalition mean an organised stalemate preventing any thorough consecutive j olicy towards France. Central Europe. Russia. Turkey or the League of Nations and therefore gravely impeded a revival of trade and employment. Similarly in domestic matters the - Conservative and Liberal elements either supported flatly contradictory policies in turn as in the case of Ireland or reduced each others commercial measures to a series of washed out compromises. The Coalition was created for a national duty which it never achieved for a mi- ‘ tional energy which it devitalised, for plans of reconstruction which it scrapped; for commercial recovery which it retarded. ’ j LNIONIST STATEMENT. LONDON, October 28. Sir G. Younger in u letter to the Unionist Associations of every eonstitutency in England and Wales, denies any pact between the National Liberals 1 and tlnimiists regarding contests at the coming election. Local Unionist Executives are left perfect freedom to select such candidates ns they please and the Central Office will accept tlio local decision. When arrangements are made locally whereby both sides agree not to oppose each other, the Central Office will accept the arrangements but the basis is exactly the same as was often done before the Coalition, each party acting on the assumption that it will get fair representation. RRTTISH FINANCE. LONDON, October 29. Mr Baldwin speaking at Worcester said taxation cculd only be reduced by lessened expenses. That was the great task before the Government. The late Government made efforts to reduce taxation and so far as these efforts were successful the new Government would reap the benefit but Government, could not make such a reduction in a moment, so that the peo-

pie could get it reflected in reduced taxation. Ho believed it would be a squeeze to balance next year’s budget. A GREAT RECEPTION. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON. Oct 29. Mr Lloyd George’s special train from Glasgow to Edinburg to spend the week-end with Sir A. Balfour at Wittinghame was cheered all along tho route by crowds lining the railways. Mr Lloyd George was compelled to deliver speeches wherever the train stopped. 'Hie streets of Edinburgh were thronged, the people enthusiastically cheering him as he. drove slowly, like a triumphial procession to Wittinghame.