BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1923, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

jfnrn.su political news. [“The Times” Service.J •ileccivi'd this day at !1,2u a.in.) LONDON, Nmcmlr r 12. Events in the | i»:i»ii 1 1 woild moved rapidly on- Monday. and as a .'csult. it may he stated, with confidence, t.mt the pie-ent Parliament will he pmrogued i.n Thursday with a view to an immediate dissolution in a proclamation which is to he issued on Thursday even, big. ft is expected that polling day will he on the 3th. of December, hut at pi esent the notual date has not been fixed, though it i- i.nderstood that the l’romil'i is willing to agree to whatever day the party organise is suggest. The election with certainly occur in the first nr second week ii. December the most likely days being the filth or the twelfth. It is generally agreed that the present Pai 1 i:i men L will, to all intents and purposes, be dead at the end of the week.

It is expo, ted Mr Baldwin will forestalf opposition by immediately announcing Hint uneiii| loyineiit i- acute and i- only solvable by t' e adoption oi a policy ot protection for the home markets. It is icalised liouevei that the (. •ovenmivnL must incurjoi ate with iho iujw (IcjiisitiA .s.’lmmmo of sofial ioloini hih! tlu* amelioration of i In: ntiidiLionx iifl’cetiiij' \ section', of tin? c'oiii in ii nPt y jiiid Nvi there!ore it is expected tliat the Themiff v ill, at the same time, announce his intention of devotino tin* proceeds <f llie protective duties, firstly to tlu* relief of agrifiiltural; secondly to the development of Empire cat-ton growing, tea production, and a reduction in the existing tea and .stie »r duties. This, it may he assumed, will he the hroad pint, form on whi h the (-lection will he loltelil.

SE( RETARYsHIR. MJ.N'DOX. November 1“. Till! "Daily ('li run i<- D " says Mr Austen Chamberlain sn.-c ceils the Duke of Dcmousliire. alter the elect inu«. ( AM R.WGN ARRANGED. 1.(1.VD0.N. Nov. 13. -Mr Baldwin lias decided on an immediate dissolution. A iToiifcrenec between Messrs Ast|ijll l l . Simon. Idovii George am! Sir A. Aloud lias arranged a joint cli-ilion campaign. (i o vi-: i: x a 11-: xrs ackicti :\ rita i , POLICY. LONDON. N'ovemlor 13. Till. 1 “Daily Express” says the On. veriiment’s agricultural policy includes a lioniis of 2s Id per i|iiarter on tioine ■frown wheat and assistance of a preference character lor other forms of agrieultuie. Part of the t:irill’ icveime will iie eat marked for the development of Empire cotton growing. LONDON. ’November 13. All' A .si jll i 11 1 condemned the rush election. alleging that the Government was afraid of the full and free discussion which killed protectionism twenty years ago. He declared that all businessmen condemned the disastrous disturbance of social and eommeicial life nrd described the allocation of only Thursday for the discussion as an outrage i on constitutional procedure.

Mr Austin {JliHiiiberhiiu warmly ut>j'ortcil .Mr Halil"in's ili‘> . I’OJ/ITiCAJ/ INTEREST. 'Received this day at 12 fa j : -n>-> LONDON. November 13. Interest in the political situation was evidenced hy crowds in the vii inity o! Parliament, ;tnd excitement in I lie House of Commons. The honchos, gang\vays and galleries were crowded, those present including representatives of the Dominions and menihors w ho were eager to know the Hovel nment’s plans.

When Sir .Joyn.-en Nicks asked that a (piestion should he repeated oil 'lhu.s--day, there were cries— ‘We shall not he lii'i<’.” Air Baldwin, on entering, was received w ith piolouged Alinislorinl cheering. Will Thorne and other Labourites retorted '‘Cheer iiiiirl wait till Deeemhcr lith.," .Ministerialists warmly welcomed holii < liamherlains, while Mr Asrpiith and Air •Lloyd George received ovations from their parties. BRITISH uISSOLUTf’ON. ELECTION OX (‘ill DEO. (Received this dav at 1.30 p.m.) I.OXDOX, Nov. Mr Ramsay Macdonald asked -Mr Baldwin to give time to discuss .Mr .Macdonald’s resolution condemning the Government's failure to deal adequately with unemployment, the I.uropeaii situation and Air Baldwin’s declaration that the Government proposed to establish a system of larill. expressing the opinion that this was the sole cine of unemployment. Alter tributes to the late lion A. Bonar Law hy .Messrs Baldwin. Lloyd Ocorge, Macdonald, and Asquith, Mr Baldwin announced the dissolution will probably take place on I'riday, w ith a discussion oil the Labour vote ol censure on Thursday. This means an election on (sth December. Air Baldwin said lie was so convinced that his conclusions in regard to unemployment were right, that ii waimpossible to remain t i attempt to steer the country through the winter of 192T2J, unless allowed to use the instrument which Air Bouar Law s pledge precluded him using. He had been urged to try to avoid that, pledge hut had little skill in finding a way round. The only course lor an honest man was to submit his view to the country and take his chance at ail election which was always a disturbing factor. Tt should be held as speedily as possible to enable him, ii the eouutri gave hitn u mandate to incorporate in the next budget the measures lie believed to lie necessary.