BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1924, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

AIR GARVIN’S VIEWS. POPULARITY OF AIR MACDONALD [by telegraph—run press association*.] LONDON, March 2. | Air Garvin in the “Observer” in an l article headed “The Plight of the Old Parties,” says that tlm Burnley byeelection was no fluke. -Not one of the old party leaders has the strength nor the hold upon (lie imagination or the eon fide i ico of the country since the general election. On the other hand, Mr .MacDonald, in a few weeks, became, in the popular mind, a fine national figure and. if a plebiscite could be taken on personal merits now lie would top the list. Nolle can move about (he country without learning that the popularity of Air AlacDonald’s Government has spread remarkably. The former conceptions of parly politics arc changing profoundly, and forever Ministers are seen handling larger issues with a breadth and grip, and also doing a, series of little things which ought to have been done long ago, and consequently in an odd manner, thereby creating into British consciousness a kind of retrospective resentment against the older parties and leaders. One thing is certain if 1 here is another general election and that is tho Government would return far stronger than before. Air Garvin concludes: “It Afr AlacRonald is resolved to devote himself to practical reconstructions and developments in the interests of other countries and commonwealths seeking the co-operation of reasonable minds instead of the bitterest conflict between the belligerent theorists, he might hold office for five or six years, and he remembered as a very great man.”

CHOOSING A CANDIDATE. (“Sydney Run” Cables). LONDON, .March 3. Four prospective candidates expounded their views to the executive of the Westminister Conservative Party and Ai r Nicholson, a nephew of a former member, secured the most votes. Sir Ash mead Bartlett secured no votes. Afr ( )iurchill refused to participate owing to the condition that the candidate must not stand unless selected by the executive. THE SINGAPORE RASE. POWER OF THE A DAI IBA LTV. (“Sydney Sun” Cables). LONDON, .March 3. The "Daily News” in a leader ascribes tlie Government's altered attitude regarding the Singapore base, to tin l tremendous political power wielded by the Admiralty. If says the Admiralty is the boldest, the most dominating and successful and in every way the most formidable Department of the State. It has beaten since the war every Government which has tried to meddle with its policy or modify its organisation. It works its will upon Parliament with ridiculous ease and lias turned responsible .Ministers into devoted and unquestioning slaves. It lias now accomplished the still more dazzling performance of swallowing the Labour First Lord and mesmerising the Under Secretary and all that re-

mains, in order lo crow victory, is !n destroy t In- .Ministry. That possibility is not removed if Do- Singapore policy is to stand. Wherein has Singapore altered since the elections. Has Earl Realty or Air Bruce brought forward a single new laet- lo weaken the view that it would be wicked and unwise to spend ten, twenty or thirty millions of tho taxpayers’ money to convert a tnolitioiml friend in tho

East into a potential enemy. Singapore oiust now he regarded as a cmri il of the Iccicctc. the good fatib and moral courage of the Macdonald Government. CXECU I()-S!4)V A KIA COItIM 'I’TION. [“Tim Times” Service.] LONDON. March 3. The Vienna correspondent of the “Times” says that sensational army contract scandals have cropped up in CV.eebn-Slovnkia. Recently it was discovered that persons in the Ministry of National Defence were taking bribes a.s commissions from emit motors who supply the petrol for the Czeeho-Slo-vakia finny. Several army officers, including a General. arc said to be iniplieated, and Doctor Svntck, editor <» tho Government Bulletin. A wellknown personality in official circles ha been arrested and charged with being privy to the affair. The contractors are accused of bribing army officers to accept petrol of inferior quality t that specified. A number of ivprescii" t;,fives of the firms concerned havt also been arrsted on charges of fraud and eorruption. THE PRICE OF INSULIN. LONDON., March 3. The Middlesex Hospital is selling new iiifiilin for 2-Jd per dose. A TEST CASE. LONDON. March 3. Civil servants are testing in the High Court, claims amounting to two millions in salary, while on war ser-