BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1923, Page 2

BRITISH ELECTIONS.

[Reuters Telegrams.) PARTY ESTIMATES. LONDON, Dec. 3. The Conservatives estimate that the new Parliament will consist of 331 Conservatives, 157 Liberals, 120 Labourites and six others. The Liberals’ estimate is: 248 Conservatives, 240 Liberals. 120 Labourites and 7 others. The Labour estimate is: 210 Conservatives. 12!) Liberals, 160 Labourito. and 6 others. CAMPAIGN NOTES. LONDON, Dee. 4. In the election campaign the interest in free trade, protection and the capital levy issues is intensifying. The newspapers have no room now for lionelection topics. The theatres and cinemas are relatively empty, though cold rain does not prevnet thousands from waiting in a queue two or three hours to hear a popular politician sq>eak. The Unionist Headquarters say that a compact Unionist majority of at least 50 is necessary to Fairy an ade-

quate protection measure. The Liberals and- Labourites say they are convinced that a narrow Unionist majority will necessitate another general election in a few months. Mr Arthur Henderson (Labour) at .Sunderland to-night, accused the Conservatives of intending to call another election in five months time, in order to down Labour, knowing that, Labour has not the finances to continue the

struggle. Mr Lloyd George forecasts that the Liberals will win ICO seals, Labour 140 and ibe Independents (>, against 300 Conservatives.

A tragic episode occurred at Wycombe, where Mr Blake, an old ago pensioner, offered to speak on behalf of Lady Terringto it. the Liberal. He ascended the platform and spoke for six minutes. He concluded :—-“Men, if you vote for tariff reform, your children will arise and curse you!” Saving this. Blake raised bis arms. He then fell backward, and died. In this connection tile Liberals and I.about- are making a great play of*the position of the .State pensioners under tariff reform. Thus the Daily Chronicle says :—The pensions are in peril. A victory for a general tariff policy will mean 3d of the shilling on all pensions Twenty-three hundred thousand will thus he subjected to taxation for tho development of the Dominions. The Daily Chronicle, in its article declaring a ■ tariff policy will itWftair old age pensions says: —"I lms the purchasing power of tile pensions would ho reduced from 7-1 millions to 55 millions."

The Lloyd George-Churchill campaigns are now rivalled by a joint display l>v Lord Derby and Lord Birkenhead in Lancashire, including one of 30(1 in the Free Trade Hall at Manches-

Speaking at Ecctes, Lord Derby explained that there was room for different shades of opinion in the Conservative Patty. He and Lord Birkenhead, he said. Were like two racing men who were ready to give advice upon win,1,.,-.,. Lord Birkenhead regarded his horse as a certainty, whereas he (Derby) thought the horse was a probable winner, hut preterred a trial before it went the full distance. Lord Birkenhead, following, refused to admit that lie was asking his friends to bet heavily on a race without hating tested his horse. ' He added that he hoped Lord Derby’s next tip would not he given on that basis. (Loud laughter).

Mr Lloyd George to-day darted. to East Anglia, continuing his campaign, which he wittily described as a “tour do force.” Though he was asleep ■alien the train stopped at Bishop Stortford, lie was awakened to make n two-minute speech to the crowd. As the train canto in, a shout of laughter arose from the crowded platform, as some enemy had plastered the train with hills “Vote for Protection!" At Amlleyend he interrupted his lunch to speak a few words. At Cambridge the crowd was so great that lie went to the station yard and addressed Liberal supporters. There were similar scenes at Klv. whero 301)0 climbed the railway trucks and bridge across the lino to hear his lightning speech on behalf of Mr Harry Monti, son of Sir Alfred Aloud. His journey ended at Norwich, where ho addressed several meetings simultaneously, by means ol amplifiers. A characteristic point was. his description of the tariff reform as a “quack medicine, which may not harm a Fernch ntan, a German, or a Russian, hut kill an Englishman.” Organised rowdyism continues an unfortunate feature of the election. When Mr Churchill reached Walthamstow n to-night, 3000 ticket holders wore within the hall, hut thousands were outside, who received Mr Churchills car with wild cat cries and hooting, some actually spitting at flic car. A man broke the police cordon and smashed tho ear window. Mounted police escorted Mr Churchill to the hall. Earlier in the day Dir Churchill, at Finslmry, retorted to interrupters from the gallery, saying “No one would get to the end of a journey if he stopped to sliv a stone at every barking dog. These people are a squad who have learnt their party cries by heart." Mr ilogbin, who is opposing M. Saklatvale (Communist) tit Battersea, had his house guarded by police night and day. lie has been informed that a gang of 20 Irish gunmen are determined to get him. Mr Ilogbin's meetings are cancelled. Mr Asquith, at Glasgow, said tho ~ deplorable manifestations of organised rowdyism were making free debate impossible. A general election meant a free, fair, open discussion, supplemented by revelant interrogation. Those violently interfering with meetings were traitors to democracy. Lord Haldane, at Leyton, said that he was on the side of Labour because ho wanted more inspiration and driving power nut into Parliament. If Labour got a powerful minority, it might lie. more potent than a majority. British manufacturers of commercial motor vehicles, including Daimlers and Thorneycrofts, and all the leading firms have sent an open letter to Mr Baldwin, expressing confidence in tariff protection against unfair foreign competition, saying it would mean more work for British engineers, and would help to remedy the terrible scourge of unemployment.

campaign notes. LONDON. Dec. 4. Mr Lloyd George, in a speech at Cambridge declared that whatever the results of the election. Liberalism would win such a triumph as it had not won for many a day. There were remai'able scenes at Mr Churchill’s meeting at Finsbury Park. A crowd of rowdies and his supporters vied with each other in cheering and hooting. They prevented hint from speaking. Eventually he obtained a hearing. He declared the interrupters were striking at the foundation of democracy. A reference by him to Mr Ramsay McDonald evoked opposition cheers and cries of “Good old Mae!” ‘Tp Rebels!”