BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1923, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. MR CHURCHILL DECLINES. LONDON. Nov. 11. Mr Winston Churchill, in declining an invitation from the Central Glasgow Liberals to stand for that seat, writes: —“After careful consideration 1 have concluded that it probably will he more useful for me to devote myself to the general election campaign, than to involve myself in a bv-eleetion, however significant. Free trade is not only a wise system of economic policy, vital to the British people or indispensable to the recovery of their prosperity. It is a touchstone commanding reactions in all spheres ot domestic and international polities. It offers the surest, shortest road to a revival o! the prosperity of British industry. I- nun many points of view. 1 deplore the raising ot this issue. Accepting the electors’ verdict of a year ago. I have not taken part in opposing the Ministry, and should have been perfectly content to remain much longer in private lilt*; hut an aggressive attack has been levelled, needlessly and wantonly, at the foundations of the people s livelihood. A monstrous fallacy is erected against us. Nearly all trades are threatened with injury, and all business rubjoeted to unnecessarily prolonged distillbailee and uncertainty. Our return to prosperity must be delayed, and cruel conditions of w inter aggravated. Ibe influence of the British Empire as an agent of reconciliation on the Continent will he woefully and temporarily fatally impaired. EARLY ELECTION. LONDON. Nov. 12. The “Morning Post” says: Conservative Bai ty opinion favours December for a general election. 1 lie session ma> collie to an abrupt end before the week is out. the Conservatives holding that nothing can he gained by delay, which is certainly had for trade. Accordingly they favour an election which will not interfere with the Christmas shopping. Other newspapers are debating w bethel* Lard Birkenhead w ill join Mr \listen Chamberlain, in a general support of Mr Baldwin, thus greatly in-n-easing the Conservative strength and platform ora lory. DECEMBER. (Deceived this day at 10 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 12 Several political correspondents agree that Mr Baldwin has decided to dissolve parliament on lhursday. with an election the first week in December.