The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28th, 1923. A GREAT ISSUE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28th, 1923. A GREAT ISSUE.

Tiie cable news in regard to tl>e progress of the British election.'. iTaYes no doubt as to the greatness of the issue, Perhaps, never before, lias there boon such a marshalling of forces, lor the issue is more clear cut limn ever it lias been. Although ii is dealing with a national situation located by the (treat War. tile e] l-iales of the war itselt and the service ii exacted in a national way. are largely in the background. The election is being toiiglit on great political issues, and the lervour of the speeches pro and con. shows bow much in earnest are the leaders of the great parties involved in the struggle. 'The contest hr.s brought Mr A.‘i|uitli ami Mr l.lc.yd George together again, which in itself is an earnest ol their intensity of leeling on the question ol free trade tor Britain. Political differences over alter war matters pat them apait. but here now they are suddenly brought together again, by a common desire to serve their country under a policy which they believe to lie essential for the national well-being. No less remarkable is the rallying ot his party men to the Prime Minister. All Baldwin, who has thrown himseli <on ammo into the fight. Mr Baldwin is a new ligure in. British politics, but In* is a very prominent one. His visit to the United Stales to negotiate for the settlement of the British debt to America, showed him to lie courageous and resourceful in dealing with a large and intimate subject, lie is now grappling before a large audience with a matter of <*von greater importance for tin* ie.sult of the election is to decide the fiscal policy of the country. As a (ii.ancicr lie lias come to the conclusion ilmt protection promises the most loi the future, anil lie has drawn to bis help pi moment Unionists who. tor the time being following the polite al rift among rim coalition leaders, stood apian from 11, (’oc.-crvaiives. Now they are hack to tin* pally fold with all their pcr.sua--ive pns-u-sef oiatory, and that reunion is not ; -ir. less reroal kahle than that referred to aii the Liberal side. As to tl.*c third party, Label also has consolidated. and presents a solid front, united in its own ranks, and fighting hard against the protection policy Tin., remarkable position is that the change of policy proposed by the <.ousel vatives is calculated to benefit Lalmr by improving the plight, of the unemployed, but Labor as a distinctive political party, will have none of it. Harking hack to 1203, when Joseph Chainherhiin miscalculated the political position, and tried to lorco protection, it will he interesting in the end to see tfe outcome. ’The t nionists at that time would not accept the pnqosed police, ami the upshot was that Joseph Chainherlaiii passed lruin the political arena after making a great personal effort fo carry his point- with the Govornmenr of which ho was a member. Two decades have rolled by, and the war lias created a new order of things, and brought in its train an upheaval of the fiscal position. Britain has not much time to make up its mind. Iho elec I ions arc being rushed; hut there is a great (low of oratory, and if at all attentive to the speakers, much can be gleaned, though w**re the election too long delayed. the multiplicity of speakers and views might make the matter more confused still. On that account an early poll has something to commend it.