BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1923, Page 3

BRITISH ELECTIONS.

[R k ctk ns Tei, no hams.] Tiiianc;j:i.a i: contests. I ,OX IM).N, November 21. For the elect ions Hit* three parties have mm selected tie* majority of their champions. The Conservatives are contesting <*o() seats. I lie I,literals are .standing lot -lfj() seats (including 70 tint ol the 81. a division in the .Finnic count.,irs). Lab,our will contest. *ll2 seats. I wen tv oi the l.ahour candi-

dates ine women. Ihe Independent I.ahonr P.irtv have issued an appeal lor £1,5.0011 to finance 75 out nt their lit’ candidates, though the niomhersliiu of the part \ is onlv .11,700. 1 here are numerous local aifangemenis in different pails of the count,rv designed to avoid tria ngul.i r contest s" Mr Arthur Henderson. speaking at Newcastle, complained that no Libera) candidates are standing for Central Newcastle, and no Conservatives at M est and Fast Newcastle, it looked, he said, like an unholy alliance to defeat I.ahonr. On the contrary, owing to the Liborals at Manchester agreeing not to contest .Mr ,1. R.Clynes's seat, a sciios of three-eoi ncied contests in Miiiiehester has keen avoided, the exception lie. big for Rnsholme. where a Communist has keen nominated. Unless a way out of the difficulty is found, there are likely to he eight triangular contests at Glasgow. A spell of hitter, wintry Weather is niak-ing the electioneerin'' difficult in the country districts. There are heavy snowstorms in many parts of the country. There ws., 12 degioes of frost at Aldershot, and 15 at (lla.-gnw. The most novel meeting of the day was a mass meeting of women in tliei.’ Drury l.ane Theatre, where the stalls circles and gallery were crowded. re hoar Mr Neville Chamberlain. The women listened villi exemplary concentration to Mr Chnmherlain's justification of the Conservative slogan of “ICeeji the Home Files Burning.” Continued murmurs of subdued “hear hears - ’ suggested the women voters were fully eapahle of following a complicated political argument.

Mr Chamberlain urged that there was no use in having the cheapest prices in the world if they had milling with which tn buy things. |f home produce eouid supply the Home demands, prices would not he effected by any duty. That was what differentiated wheat from manufact nres. It was noteworthy that tile greatest enthusiasm among the women was aroused by a reference to me Km pi re, storms of applause breaking rail, when Mr Cimmherlain urged Britain's whole future was hound up in the Kmpire. .Mr 11. Thnmas, the Railwayman Labour M. I’., speaking at Enfield protested against, the misery of the .suffering unemployed being exploited purely for jiartv purposes. It looked, lie said, as though Air Baldwin, finding himself in difficulties, had fished about for an excuse for an election. Instead, however, of landing a salmon, lift had caught a whale, which now threatened to swallow Air Baldwin and his party. AViicther the whale would suivive such an unwholesome diet, events would show. The National I'nion of Manufacturers have issued a statement, based on questionnaires addressed to various associations. The replies suggest that a tariff on 50 per renCh.f the imported manufactures should provide employment for half a million new receiving an unemployment dole. LONDON, November 22. The Women’s Section of the Labour Thirty have issued a manifesto condemning fresh taxes in the name el Imperial preference on foodstuff's such as salmon (a worker’s luxury) and apples (a children’s joy). It argues the traders would increase the price of Home and Dominion products to in-L about the price- of foreign product ■>, pins the duty.