BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1924, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

[REUTERS TELEGRAMS.]

“ OBSERVER'S ” CO.M.M EXT,

illeesivcd this day at 8 a.m.)

LONDON, October ID. Public sentiment, regarding the bitterness with which the election is being conducted, finds expresseion in the Sunday papers, notably with the personal aspects and the “Sunday Express ” alludes to the “ general complaint of personal abuse which is tainting platform speeches.” The “Observer,” in an editorial hearing evidence of the hand of .Mr •/. L. Garvin, says: "The election in its low moral tone is had, as we expected. We have never remembered worse. There is no excuse.”

The paper proceeds to exclude -Messrs Baldwin, Asquith and Lloyd George and continues: “Mr MacDonald is less fortunate hut lias said nothing half so bad as the other parties have said of him. While we hope he will remember that lie is still Prime Minister, we do not hesitate to express our strong personal sympathy and must show why he deserves fairer dealing from his oppopents. No competent person denies that Mr MacDonald is a great Foreign Secretary.”

The writer emphasises Mr MacDonald's restoration of the good relations with France, his work on the Irish boundary question, Sudan, India and Iraq. Regarding Russia, the writer says; “While disagreeing, it is impossible for anyone to dispute the high standard of his motives.” The writer concludes: “In domestic affairs however, he is virutally no Premier at all.” MIJ GAIIVIN ON SOCIALISM. (Received this day at !) a.in.) LONDON, Orfoher Pi. Mr Garvin in a signed article, headed, “Why Socialism is Suicide,” argues that the Liberals and Conservatives in reasoned alliance can save the interests of the State. The Campbell case like King Charles's head continues to crop up in the Conservatives and Liberals’ speeches in the form of provoking a reply. Yesterday brought a whole batch of explanations in response to the earlier speeches of Lord Birkenhead, Sir Alfred Mond, Miscount Grey, and others.

Kir Alfred Aloud at Rarmarthen asked: “ft is a fact that five Labour Commoners went to the Home Secretary, who took them to the Prime Minister? If, furthermore, it is true that the prosecuting counsel had a brief marked ‘Withdrawn bv order of the Prime .Minister.’ Then clearly the Labourite* clid not face an inquiry because they were afraid.”

.Mr Arthur Henderson telegraphed -Mr MacDonald characterising Sir A. -Mood's statement, regarding the five Labourites, as absolutely untrue. Mr -tiacDonald in a speech last night confirmed this, adding: *• It was left in control of the At torney-Ceneral. All we did was to express an opinion, my own being against the withdrawal and then I said, ‘do and do as you like.’ ” Sir Patrick Mas Lings, interviewed at Yarrow in lefcrence to the marked brief, said: “I am satisfied, from inquiries made, that no such document exists.”

-Mr J. 11. Thomas at Wakefield, turning the tables declared: “I can produce evidence to show that Lord, liirkduce evidence to show that Lord Birknrt, in their time, not only dismissed prosecutions with the Cabi net, hut took into their councils the public prosecutor in order to discuss the merits of the prosecution. They even went to the extent of instructing the AttorneyGeneral only to proceed il he was satisfied that conviction was absolutely sure.”

Meantime Mr Baldwin maintains a calm outlook and insists cn stable Government as essential to the .canity of properit.v. Speaking ‘to 3,5(Mi people in the Empire’ Theatre at Cardin’ last night, he declared the Labour leaders were to busy devoting themselves to international conferences instead of to the study of problems at their own door. Mr Baldwin said lie often wondered what could not lie accomplished! il.' all pulled together for twelve months. If the Labour leaders and employers in different industries only got together the country would not know itself. The Labour Party perpetrated a fraud on the people when they said they had a positive remedy for unemployment. .Mr Lloyd George, at Lhingnirferhaii, said, he had never seen an election in which the Ministers so completely lost their tempers.

Mr Bernard Shaw, speaking at Northampton, said it was better to lend Russia thirty millions than to throw it away oil demoralising doles, lie condemned the strong language used by Mr Asquith, Lord Birkenhead and .Air Churchill as calculated to have a had effect on Russia and endanger the noace of the world. Mr MacDonald in a message to “Reynold’s News” says:—“ Labour, is, this election, is laced by a combination of interests, parties and newspapers never known before in the history of political contests. It stands alone, and, almost single, handed, lights its battle. They should win lor it the support not only of the working classes hut of all who see in such combinations a menace to the freedom of thought and independence of political action.’ The nominations occupy nine and it half columns of nonpareil in the “Observer.” The surprise was the last minute nominations of a number of Socialists which were not expected. The "Daily Express” says that three cornered contests are more numerous than was anticipated, numbering 225. Four straight lights between the Liberals and Conservatives have been broken in three eases hv the nomination of a Lilieral and in the other by n Conservative.

labor possum (Received this day at H-25 u.nO LONDON, October -0. Labourite prophets are less optimistic, owing to co-operation between Conservatives and Liberals, >nt *uo sustained l.v the remarkable cnthnsinsm of Labourite meetings. 1 heir opponents point out that Labour s rapid increase during the four years „.,i,m,l chiefly in the dense centres of population, where they now nol.l manv scats, therefore there are less opportunities for further gains. Labour has made little progress in the rural constituencies. They would rcV- quire a country-wide landslide to obtain an additional 120 seats, giving a- majority of twenty-one Commoners. They arc not contesting the seat o. Lord Younger, who predicted Mr Ronnr Law’s sweeping victory in 1922, and Mr Baldwin’s defeat in 1923. lie believes tbe Conservatives will return with a clear majority.