BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1924, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. WILL FIN'D A SOLUTION. LABOUR TO WORK. LONDON, ,lmi. S. Replying; to tin? speeches ol the mover ami seeonder alter his election to the Speakership in the Commons, the lion Whitely said that they weie mooting under new circumstances lint he believed that “In this old House id Commons, and whatever the new circumstances may he, we shall lind a way to solve them in the Commons, as the wisdom of onr ancestors has built it up.” Mr Ramsay Macdonald, addressing a meeting; of Labourites, said:—"Me e.re going to take ofiiee to do work and not to prepare lor a general election. Wo are going to stamp out the embers of war over the wide world, fo recognise Russia and to seek an international understanding among the peoples of the world.”

CABINET TO MEET THU BSD A V LONDON, Jan. 8. (.'abillot meets oil Thursday to finally consider the King’s speech and decide whether the Conservative Party will continue to advocate protection. Mr Baldwin is at present considering the report ol Lord Milners Committee on Turin's, which has reached important conclusions that may iulitleticc Cabinet’s decision. [IOCSE OF COMMONS OPENS. SCENES DESCRIBED. LONDON. Jan. s. The House ol Commons has opened. There was a crowded attendance and the atmosphere was lively with anticipation, though to-day’s Im-incss was formal. East End Labour members arrived, escorted by charabancs full ol partisans who enlivened iho city ett route with rattles, cheering, singing mio. Hying the Red Flag. Lady Tcrriugion was the first woman Labour member and -lie entered hat less, which is unprecedented. Mrs Philipsoii was the only ( onser- \ alive lady member present.

Mr Baldwin was received with Labour jeers and cries of "lie is hack again.” Mr MacDonald received an ovatioi from supporters. In Mr Asrpiith’s absence, owing a chill, Mr Diced George took Mi Asquith's place and engaged Mr Ala. Donald in conversation. There were some derisive Labour cries when Air Al.aeDonald joined AL Baldwin in the procession to the House of Lords to hear the King’s re quest to elect a Speaker. After the Hon .1. H. Whitley s election the House adjourned. PROSPECTS OF LABOUR GOVT. LONDON, January 8.

The ‘Tillies’’ in a leader, repeats the prospects of a Labour Government faced with a strong, informed opposition in the pro out eircunistam o.s that would lie less generous than lmsty to an artificial C'on.-ervative-l.ihoial pact, with the object of excluding Labour from power. Lot there he no misunderstanding. of the risks involved in a ministry, of which Air AlaeDouald had necessarily composed of men without experience of business, nr of a national Government. They would almost inevitably make,mistakes for which the country would have to pay, hut. some loss in list lie faced. The country is unable to make a stable Government, suppoitc.l by an independent majority. If an eleventh hour pact he made the rank and file of Labour may leasonahly feel that they have been tricked. They were inspired, no doubt, with exaggerated hopes and believe- that if a Labour Government is given the opportunity it cm and will find a remedy for all the social and industrial distress. If T.ahour is denied the opportunity 7>y the Alliance, l>a sed on a panic, these hopes become more exaggerated and their expression will he more violent. It is far better for those now entertaining them that they should learn the relation between tvliat is desired and what is possible from the experience of their ('(•ii leaders in office. , LABOUR CELEBRATIONS.

LONDON. Jan. !>. At the Albert Hall, the Labour Leader. Mr Ram-ay .MacDonald, grey haired, with spectacles, and hoarse ol voile, faced an audience of at least 12.0 DD people. Every foot of the vast hull was tilled with men and women who were bent on celebrating the Socialist successes. On either side of the coming Print' .Minister, were Air J. 11. 'liiomas. AI.P., the Railwayman's Secretary ), Miss Margaret Bondfield. ALB.. Mr Ttohcrt Smillie. M.P., Colonel Wedgewood. M. 8.. Air George l.anshiiry. MB.. Mr Sidney Webb. AI.P.. and others who are also expected to he members of the first Labour Alinistry in Britain. A feature of the gathering was that a great number of American and Continental newspaper men were there, all of them interested in the sensational turn of liriti'h politics. Afr AlaeDouald. who had considerable ififfieultv in making hiniselt heard, emphasised the point that he was not delivering a programme speech. He asked whv Labour should take office, and added: ‘‘lt is not because ire hasten off the stage of .mortal life the Father who is handing him over a bankrupt estate! AVe are taking office ieeati.se we shrink from no respoiisilility that comes in the course of the •volution of otir movement. AVe have milt our final habitation away on the lorizon. We are a party -of idealists, nit we are going to get there, not by i jump, but step hv stop.’ ••The root of the unemployment rouble,” he said, "is the low pnrehnsng power of ihe mass of the eonsunirs. Housing will he an essential part if the unemployment problem. ‘ i rusts, the monopolies, and the corners tand in the wav. Labour will break

Air MacDonald concluded : ‘‘One condition essontial to success is unity. There must ho no Clyde’group, to miners, nor coal groups.” A .MEMORABLE NIGHT. LONDON, Jan. fl. In his speech at the Albert: Hall, Air Ramsay MacDonald said:—“We do not belong to a country. If, by accident. we ilrst belong to Britain, we belong to the interests of the world itself. Air Hamilton Eyfo, Editor <d the' “Daily Herald, ’’ writing descriptively of the Albert Hall meeting, says: What struck me about the crowds was not the fact that they were outwardly just like Conservative mid Liberal audiences, but that in their faces there was the light of idealism, ami in their eyes the shining of intelligence. It was this which raised the speeches to so high a level. Every speech was worthy of an audience. At first Mr .MacDonald’s every sentence was cheered, hut soon the listeners became too anxiotis not to miss a syllable and they scarcely cheered until the close when there was a tremendous outburst. Though Afr AlncDonakl did not enunciate a programme, he laid down clearly, general lines of police. with world pence its the first aim. ’ The "Morning Post,” editorially, says: “Mr MacDonald gave a picture of a new world. Alt' MacDonald devoted his oratory to a protestation that the Socialists would do none tf those things, which, for many years, they had been saying they would do. Putting the matter plainly, they were seeking office under false pretences, trying to gain Liberal support themselves."

T7ii» “Daily Express’s'’ lobby correspondent soys: “Mr Lloyd George bus not only abandoned any thought of assisting the Conservatives, Imt he i‘ - definitely turning leftwards. Till*: ANTI SOCIALIST. LONDON, Jan. S). While lhe Labourites were demonstrating at the Albert Mall, Sir F. lianilniry presided at an Anti-Socialist demonstration in the Aeolian Mall which resolved:—“That all iinti-SoeiaL ist .If. P’s, irrespective of parties, should suspend their dellereneos or miner issues, and co-operate to maintain a Government whinch would truly !■ tlect the ipici>us if the country adding that every revolution was begun by moderates, hut ended in bloodshed and rapine.