BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1924, Page 1

BRITISH POLITICS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. GOVERNMENT TO FALL WEDNESDAY. RUSSIAN TREATY THE ISSUE. LONDON, October 7. The universal opinion in the, lobbies is that the Cabinet intend that tho Government shall Bill on AA ednesdiij. This is eon,firmed by the “Daily Herald’s” announcement that Labour will fight. This is the unanimous decision ot* the Cabinet.

The “Daily Telegraph” says: Only if tlie Liberals withdraw their own amendment and vote against the l n•o'uist motion will the Ministry be given a respite. 'Flic Cabinet have rejected the alternative of a judicial inquiry into the “AA’orkcrs’ AAecklv’ ease on the ground that the whole of the Government are being censured and it is impossible to have an inquiry upon the conduct of the entire Government.

T’lie general expectation is that the polling will he fixed for November 8. ’The real issue of . the election will lie the Russian Treaty, which alone caused the acute development of tho Campbell prosecution “affair.” Twenty or thirty ildbornl members of the House of Commons who doubt the wisdom of their leaders’ condemnation of the Russian 'Treaty will meet privately in Loudon, on Tuesday in view'd' the election.

The “Daily Herald” has launched a campaign against dearer food. 'I he campaign is one condemning the alleged combines that have a growing grip on the nation’s food. The paper instances the recent rises in the prices of wheat, Hour, tea, butter and sugar. The “Herald” tabulates the generous dividends of the big food distributing companies, which is evidence that they are passing on their sufferings to the consumers.

Another line of Labour’s attack is indicated in a remarkable speech by Air Slesser, at South Hackney, who said that unless the Labour Party continued in power and control “we are hound to have a revolution.” “Most of tho young people,” he said “are getting educated, and are making a demand for a fuller life. It is the Labour Party which will save a revolution by letting the natural organic development of the people to proceed.

Mr Lloyd George addressed ail audience at Leicester which comprised eight tlioosaitd people apart from a great overflow meeting in an adjoining Jmll, where Ids original speech was broadcasted wirelessly, and where Mr Lloyd George made a second speech. Mr Lloyd' George was mooli heckled, and some of his criticisms of the Government were greeted with a chorus of jeers. Mr Lloyd George retorted: “Some here don’t want to listen, hut the nation will turn out Labour bv an overwhelming mnjoiitv.” One retort to a heckler was: “Von Want, an amplifier my friend.’’ ’I his (onvulsed the audience. During the speech some one cried “What about the twentylive Liberals who favour the -Russian Treaty.” Mr Lloyd George replied: “You have got your facts wrong. There won’t he twenty-five when the time comes. The vast majority of Liberals will be faithful to the leadership of Mr Asu'iit h.’’ (Cheers). Incidentally .Mr Llovd George, diseiissing the influence id the “wild men” of the La hour "Party, said:— “f remember talking to Mr A\ . M. Hughes He once was a Labour lender, and was acting Labour Prime Minister, but bo tdd me that he found the position quite impossible. The Cabinet would meet and decide on a certain course. Then a meeting of the extreme nu*n outside would send a deputation, and say: “We can’t have this! .You’ve got to go faster.” They dictated right, left’ centre, forward and backward, until Mr Hughes who was not a man to he bullied, for he was a Welshman, said: “I am hot going to stand it any longer. The Government is impossible.” So he broke mvav and that elided the Labour Government in Australia for a great many years.”

Air Neville Chamberlain. sneaking at Itugby. said:- ”\Ye want to get rid <:( annual *doctiens which upset business. and disturb trade. We must gel lid of tie- three partes, and seru.ro a. sinner stable (Invernnieul. .As it is impossible fur the Liberals to v.in. T suggest that they help us to defend the Soeialists."

l'l’KM lEll’S STATF.M ENT. LONDON. (let. 0. Air Aim’ll.maid has been specially interviewed bv the “Review of Reviews.” He made the most frank and outspoken statement, on the political situation that so far has been olio rod. lie said: “J ust when 1 was tired, hut elated, at reaching a satisfactory basis in the Turkish uegotiat ions, t here came like a tbief in the nieht, a l.ihornl demand in a Select Committee to inquire into the withdrawal of the Campbell prosecution regarding the Communist paper, “Workers’ AVoeklv.” I am ready for this subject to - he debated ill the House of Commons; hut. is it fair to ask us to accept a sort of roving eommissioii to examine every letter and minutey We are asked to submit our ease in advance to a Select Committee on which our opponents, in accordance with their respective strength, hold a majority of 7 to 3. In other words the parties voting against us will be our judges. They hold the Governmnnt’s repetition in tbeir liamls. The issue should he tried in the House of Commons when the responsibility for complicating the issue hv preventing the work we are trying to do m the public interest could fairly bo publicly assessed. Though we have not a majority we are entitled to fair play. A\o are not a gang of footpads. It. seems to me that; the Trisli Treaty is most urgent. There will he danger if a Cabinet crisis or a dissolution is brought about hv the Liberals ami Conservatives’ action. It will be inevitable that that action will he re-yarded hv the Irish I'ree State ns a British tnek to evade the fulfilment of Hie AngloIrish Treaty. There is an ungentleluanly taint about- the situation. Take tin- Uussian Treaty. The Liberals say they are ready to make a treaty but thov would not give any guarantees. If the Liberals believed in the principle of the Treaty, why have thov not approached us to see what could be done. They have made no approach hut gave notice of their amendment in the Campbell matter well knowing the consequences. Tn a word, they are playing partv game. 1 believe the country will judge rightfully between us.

AfFF.TTNG OF CABINET. LONDON. Oct. 0. Tt is regarded as significant that Sii Patrick Hastings (Attorney-General) who is not a meml>or of the Cabinet, attended the Cabinet this afternoon when consideration was given to the eonrse to be adopted by Hie Government in the vital debate on Wednesday ’on the withdrawal of the “Workers’ Meekly tr irifZ i'e-tod th.t ,hc Cabinet deliberations have not changed the position mentioned on October -no., namely, that the Government will in-

sist on n decision by a House of Commons vote, ami not by an inquiry, whether by Select Committee or by judicial inquiry; and that, if the Government arc defeated, a general election will follow-.

PROFITEERING. LABOUR’S REMEDY. LONDON. Oct. fi. The Labour Party Executive is aiming at stamping out tlie profiteering in fnodstuifs. Tt. will submit to its Tuesday’s (Conference a resolution suggesting that arrangements lie made botwecir the Britixb and Dominion ('•«- ornnicnts and where necessary with foreign governments, for the hulk puichase and government transport of foodstuffs, and llicir distribution at onforced stmiilanl prices, by local autnoMties and co-operative soi ietios. Tt is noteworthy that this scheme broadly includes the Labour Pnilinmentariaiis’ alternative proposal, made during the-late proforonoo debate.