BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1924, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

ACHTIIALIAN AND N.Z. CAULK ASSOCIATION. TO COUNT I'll! INCREASE OK , prices. I,ON DON, October 9. The* Labour ('onfereiico 3>;<l a re•solution ('ailing on the (ioveniineni to devise means for protecting British industries and consumers against the arbitrators and needless increase in prices, suggesting the bringing to a conclusion the agreements with the Dominions and, where necessary, with Foreign (lovermnents lor the hulls purchase and Government trasport ol commodities required hv 15ritain, and the distribution of these foodstuffs by municipalities and co-operative societies. .Mr Lansbury, in moving the resolution said if it had been the autumn session a hill drafted by Mr Wheatley and the Attorney-General would have been introduced, controlling the prices of foodstuffs. THIO EARLY FLECTION. LONDON, O.tobcr 9. In the House of Commons, Air R. MacDonald expressed regret at the action of the Opposition I’arties, which had rendered a general election inevitable. His Majesty had consented to a dissolution, and, as the Government were anxious to prevent the general election from clashing with the municipal elections, in November, it proposed the prorogation of I’arliamcnt tonight. He said the nominations would close on the 18th. of October, and the election would he held on October 99th. The date of the election is dependent upon the lii.sli Dill 'being passed today, hut it is understood there will lie no difficulty with the House of Lords, and that the dissolution will occur tonight. I’arliament will meet a week or two alter October 99th. SHOUT, SHARP CAMPAIGN. I,ON DON, October 10. It is understood that the new Parliament will meet on November |8 10 that the election struggle will la* one of the shortest and shar|K'st on retold. The Members of tin* House o Commons belonging to all parties, are personally delighted that the campaign will Us short, lint the Liberal organisers complain that it is the most flagrant snap election ever forced upon tin unwilling electorate. The rapidity of tlm election is rendered possible, owing to tin* House, of Lords allowing the Irish Dill to pass without amendments, after a conference of the leaders. Tho “Daily Express” I’arliamentary correspondent says that the House of Commons gasped with surprise when Mr MacDonald announced the date of the olectir.ln. Even the. Labourites were surprised. Then they realised the cleverness of the move, and they cheered Mr MacDonald to the echo. The Stock Exchange regrets the election, hut, as it was certain to conic over the Russian Treaty, financial circles prefer to have it over quickly, and finally remove the uncertainty. The success of tho Queensland loan was a reassuring factor, showing the ofleet of the dissolution on the money market was one of the slightest. Labour’s Electoral Organisation boasts it is better prepared for a general election than its rivals. 'lbis is true, in comparison with the Liberals, hut the Unionists have long expected mi election in the autumn, and their organisers are not caught napping, and millions of pamphlets have already been printed. The “Daily Chronicle” sa.vs: "11 is obvious that the Government is counting on the unprepared ness of its opponents. Another reason lor the rust is that the Government is threatened by the Communist elements.”

CANDIDATES'. LONDON, October 10. Labour lias alroaily A7.‘l candidates i the Hold, aiul it expects to have five hundred, compared with its -1-7 oandidatcs last year. Tile 'Coa.servatires will number about HOO, and the Libeials 350. All the present women Commoners except Airs I’liilipson will stand again, and there have been 21 other women candidates already selected. The majority of the meiitlicrs have left for their eoustitueneies. 'flic Liberal Campaign in Loudon opens on Tuesday afternoon, with a demonstration at Queen’s Hall, the speakers includin'' Air Asquith, Air Llo.vd (looroe mid Sir John Simon, and all the Liberal candidates lor the J/union seats will be present. Seventy Socialists in the last Mouse were returned on minority votes. 01 these, lifleeu are in London, ten ot which seats are rightly Conservative, and live rightly Liberal seats. The "Daily Express" .suggests that arrangements be made to obviate these loss' 1 , and adds that as the losulL of discussions last night in Air O'Gindv’e scat (Hast f.eeds) it is expected Air Slesser will contest it, as the financial difficulties in (onnectioii with the Governorship of Tasmania have now been overcome. Air Austen Chamberlain at Liverpool indicated the Dominion 'preference question will lie revived daring the Consei vativo campaign, lie declared that, apart from .Socialism, the electors must decide whether the country should robtilf the Dominions, and at the same time try to briihe the. Soviet. Air Churchill at Woodford, in Essex, also dealt with preference, and also the Singapore base. lie said the .Labourites had told the Australians: “You call shift for yourselves,” almost on the morrow of a war, in which half a million of Australians and New Zealanders had given their lives for love, of the Mother Country. Mr Afaxton. at Alfredton. in Derbyshire, said he had been accused, in a measure, of the responsibility lor the release of Campbell. A\ hear lie heard o the arrest, he had express'! the view that it was a mistake. Tie said ho knew Campbell, who went with the army, and ictiirned battered. Fie only had been in his editorial job for a week or two. Mr Afaxton added : “I don’t think he was responsible for this offence. The Attorney-General said he would inquire if my statements * Were true. That was the only conversation I had with any Cabinet. Alinister concerning tbe ease.”