MR LLOYD GEORGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 April 1923, Page 2

MR LLOYD GEORGE.

A FURTHER ARTICLE. CONDITION'S OF TO-DAY. ACSTKALIAN AND N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION. . The following and all of -Mr Lloyd George articles, are copyright by United Press in America and all countries, copyright in Australasia by tho Australian Press, Copyright, in Britain by the Daily Chronicle. (Reproduction in full or part prohibited). (Received this day at 8.30 a.in.) LONDON, April 19. Hen. Lloyd George writes: A lew weeks ago I predicted that the comparative calm prevailing in British political seas during ike past few yeats A was coming to an end. Recent Parliamentary scenes leave no doubt that the prolonged political depression will he followed bv a period of storms, and it may be of hurricanes. No amount of organisation or propaganda can excite the real feeling in the electorates over trivial and unreal issues. The war was real enough but the war was supported by men of all parties, therefore it provoked no political contreverse, the minority opposing it being negligible. The Treaty of Peace on the whole was accepted by all parties, when lirst submitted to Parliament and coaliticn legislation, although in ordinary seasons it would have aroused angry passions. Coming as it did after the war had exhausted the emotions it was passed with no more than it feeble murmur of protest. Take, for instance, the adult suffrage enfranchisement of women, the wholesale reduction of tho hours of labour, the representative givernment for India and notably homo rule for Ireland, which was more complete’ than any proposed by Gladstone. Any c.f these subjects, before the war, would have led to heated discussions throughout the land. Ireland’s ca.-e was the most significant of the changed temper of the nation, immediately alter the war, fiercer passions had been stirred over Ireland than over any other political question in modern times. The causes underlying the conflict dealt with the most powerful motives which make the human heart throb of race and religion. There was an old feud between the Saxon ami Gael extending over at least seven centuries. AYhon Afr (Mudstone proposed to settle this raging tumult by wresting supremacy from the fine which had been dominant fur seven hundred years, the ] as-ions were ra keener and angrier than any in British polities for many a day. It led to scenes of physical violence oil the floor of the House.

It shows what we may expect, when a genuine divison of opinion profoundly moves the masses of men and women in democracy. For years the political controversy has been suspended in the presence of a common danger. A reaction was inevitable and the greater the supprosison the more violent the rebcuml. That, however, dees not altogether account for the omens visible of the coming struggle unprecedented in gravity.

Fundamental issues had been raised of such moment, to millions that they cannot he settled without a struggle on that rock, society. The scene enacted in the Commons a few days ago gave me tin uneasy feeling that the period of calm was definitely over. Parliament henceforth must expect gusts and gales, and worse. There are signs of a great stir coming in British polities The cause is: easily explained. A sense of exhaustion C passing away and issues containing a serious challenge to the rights and privileges of powerful (lasses of the community and vital to the interests of Jill classes, have been raised by one of the great political parties that divide Britain. The momentous character of that challenge may he gathered from the terms of Afr Snowden's motion.

Few men outside the Socialist Party were quite prepared for this demand of a complete change in the organisation of society. Even for students of Socialistic* literature the actual introduction of the* resolution, c ame as a surpiisc and ». shock. _\ t tiie last elect it.-n lhe Socialist poll a}4£fvg:aU»(l ill*. 1 imposing figure f -1.2d1.000 votes, Mr Ramsay MacDonald states categorically that In knows that Independent Labour members. exclusive of the* leaders favour nationalisation and a capital levy. Thus nearly one half of the British electorates arc already prepared to assent to Sue ialisin in easy stages, which is the purpose at Mr Snowden’s amendment, ' hence the new sense of struggle with cialists have shrewdly noted the causes tating. Capitalism is to he arranged before the Supreme Court of Nations, condemned and sentenced to he executed hv instalments. The Chinese fashion of composition of that court today is not favourable to prosecution, but who will be judges after the next general election. The average comfortable citizen was still inclined to think these Socialist is schemes so crazy as to he impossible. They cannot believe twenty-one million sane people can possibly contemplate giving sanction to such fancies. There are two cardinal facts constantly overlooked by the complacent. First, the property-less men and women constitute an overwhelming majority of the elect! rs. The second fact is the great preponderance of indusliia! population over t he- steadier and more stolid a gric'id 1.-iral popuhclicui. Si.xtjy percent of the population in America, Frame and Italy are still agraii.cn. Barely ten per cent of the British are engaged c ultivntmg the soil. Most of our workers have their being in the crowded, excitable* atmosphere* of factories. workshops um.l mines, hence the rapidity with which the fever spread. On it he arrested. Nothing will be t done until the clanger is visible to every eye. The trouble can he* arrested c.nlv in two ways; one the systematic inculcation of sound doctrines c.t economic truth into the minds of the workers; and second, and more important is the rooting out of social evils which furnish the revolutionary with striking, indisputable object lessons of the failure of the capitalistic system, as the agent of human happiness. Without the latter, the former effort, would he futile. Meanwhile, let the champions of tin? existing order take note that the socialists c (forts to advcrti.se and eagerness to redress thcT wV c lags ,of ex-servicemen soften the* asperities of discipline for soldiers. Scwhich the political atmosphere is palpi- | reducing the overthrow of their Italian brethren, and mean to ensure if «« Fasc ism comes to Britain, that it will he an ullv not a foe.