BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1923, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

AUSTRALIAN' AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. KEEN INTEREST IN COMMONS. LONDON, Nov. Id Members of the House ot t ominous began to arrive at dawn. By eigni a.m. it large numner ol places had Been claimed by members putting tickets on the seats. This was indicative of the election battle. The wannest reception was given to Mr Au-tcn Chamberlain, whom the t onservativeare delighted to see again in then firing line.

Apart Irimi Mr Baldwin's blunt businesslike statement, the most liramittic episode of the day was Mr Austen Chamberlain's attack upon Mr Asquith, ami his whole-hearted justifiea tion ot Mr Baldwin’s act ion.

Mr Austen Chamberlain said that it was lidiculous for the Leader of the Opposition to denounce the Government because it was appealing to the country. The Prime Minister had no choice after his Plymouth speech. Once that was made, no honest- man could continue responsible for the Go vornmi’iit of the country without seeking to carry out his policy. Mr Chamberlain said that it was impossible L.i any Government satisfactorily to conduct the business of the country when the House was under sentence of early extinction.

Mr Chamberlain's speech particularly vexed tile Labourites, who kept a running fire of interruptions, including Mr Pringle’s cry: "You’ll gel a job alright!” Mr Chamberlain fixed Mr Pringle with Ids monocle, and retorted icily: "How few words are needed to 1 1'close the contents of a small mind!" .Sir Simon (Liberal, asked who titer the Government- really wanted tin country to vote as nearly blindfolded as possible. Mr .lack .Jones Labour) said that neither free trade nor protection appealed to the Labour Party. "We want to protect the worker against both Conservatives and the Liberals" lie said. "I congratulate Mr Baldwin on living up to his pledge. ll he winlie deserves to, hut we will see it :s the other way." Mr Serymgeour (Dundee Prohibitionist. described the election ;>s “a fraud perpetrated upon the nation, and a trick by which the Government hoped to get out of a mess.” LABOUR’S CENSURE MOTION. LONDON, Nov. 11. Mr Ramsay MacDonald t Labour Leader) and Mr .1. R. dynes have tabled a motion as follows, tor Ihursdays sitting of the House: — "That this House censures the neglect of the Government to deal with the present needs of the unemployed, and it regrets their failure to devise and pursue a national policy calculated to restore the inHuence of the country abroad, and to re-establish international peace and trade. It condemns the decision of the Government hi leave millions of British people in want in order to light an election on an undisclosed scheme of tariffs and Imperial preference conceived by sections ol the capitalists, in ilteir own interests, the effect of which must ho to increase the cost of living, and to encourage the formation of anti-social trusts and ccmbines.” PARTIES VERY ACTIVE. LONDON, Nov. 11. There is feverish energy among the Party officers, particularly tlm.se at the office of the Central Unionists. The Unionists propose to contest practically every constituency. The Liberals are hard at work amalgamating their two Party machines, and seeking candidates, though they admit that the election lias: come somewhat as a surprise. The re-uuilod Liberal Party's manifesto will take the form of a call to all Liberals for unity. The Labour Party deny that they have been caught napping. They say their arrangements for the fray are well in hand. The Labour Party hope to contest ■KM) seals. All the peinTing by-eleetions have, been cancelled, including that in which the Countess of "Warwick has been engaged for the Labour Party. LONDON, Nov. 1 I Mr Winston Churchill will probably he invited to contest a Manchester constituency. When the .Manchester Liberals made him tentative overtures. Mr Churchill replied:—“Lancashire is my natural battle ground. If I have to fight there, f would prefer to stand for Manchester.’’

THE LIBER AI .S' REI'NIOX. LONDON, Nov. M. 1 he l nil. d Liberal Party’s manifesto states:—‘•Arrangements are now rompleted for all the Liberals to tight this election as a united Party, both in the constituencies and at headquarters. Candidates will lie adopted, and described as Liberals, and will he supported by the whole st l ength of the Party, without regard to past dillcte t ices." Mr Asquith and Mr Lloyd George. at a meeting, settled their plans for the campaign, in common, and it is already certain that Liberal candidates will go to the poll in such numbers as to make Liberalism a practical alternative to the present Ooverumeut. There will be a common output of literature, and a common list ol speakets. A TRADE CONCERN'. LONDON. Nov. M. The “Daily Express” says: We regard .Mr Baldwin’s limited protection as far short of an ideal solution of unemployment, hut, while the Conservatives are offering less than they ought, the Liberals oiler absolutely nothing, while Labour follows the strange financial conception of a capital levy, with no reference to Imperial alfnirs. We hope the Conservatives may yet add full preference to their protection proposals, and take a firm stand on the essential unity t.f the Empire as a trade concern. The “Morning Post” sav.-: What Mr Baldwin asks is no more and no le-s than a free hand to carry out a policy which, in his judgment, is good for the country As Prime Minister, he is entitled to this freedom. The “Daily Telegraph” says: Nothing but the strongest, most sincere convictions could have counselled an election. Mr Baldwin is entitled that this should he recognised hy all lair-minded persons.

LIBERAL PAPER’S COMMENT LONDON, Nov. U. The Daily Chronicle says: Mr Baldwin must he well aware that his Party s shabby manoeuvring for a snap election is a lapse from the traditional honour anti decency of British public life. ) e- - terdav’s best news is that the Liberal forces are re-united. Never has this country been more in need of the Liberal Party than now.” THE LORD CHANCELLOR SHIP. LONDON, Nov. 14. The Daily Chronicle reports: —Lord Cave, who is shaken by a severe illness, retires from the Lord Chancellorship in favour ot Lord Birkenhead. Sir Geo. Younger (exTory Whip) rejoins the Unionists’ Central Office for the period of the election, as Captain Jackson must atter.J to his constituency.

LABOUR’S HANDICAP. LONDON, Nov. 14. The Daily Herald urges its readers to respond quickly to Air Alncdotmld’s and Mr Arthur Henderson’s appeal for an election fund of one million shillings. “Labour's opponents,” it says, “have unlimited money. Labour neither expects, nor wishes, to match the illgotten gains of the secret Liberal and Tory partv funds, but it does want sufficient to pay for printing, and to hire halls etc.” GOYERNM ENT’S MAJORITY FALLS. [ Reuters Tf.i.egrams.] tßeccivsd this day at 8 a.tn.) LONDON. Nov. 13. In the House of Commons durttfcthe discussion on the Workmen’s Compensation Bill, the Government's majority fell to eleven and twenty resportively on the opposition ments. This caused no excitement which was due to the big exodus of members after the more important speeches.