BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1924, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICS.

ICBTBALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. APPEAL EXPLAINED. LONDON, Oct. 21. Mr MacDonald’s appeal in Shellield for Liberal support is explained by the fact that no Liberal candidate is contesting the Shellield divisions, permitting straight-out lights lietweeit Conservatives and Socialists, LIVELY MEETINGS. LONDON, October 22. Despite a Labour headquarters statement, deprecating rowdyism, a number of Conservatives’ and Liberals’ meeting have been broken up. .Sir R. Home was obliged to abandon a speech at Glasgow last night. Several were ejected, and there were scenes causing women to rush towards the platform for safety. Later Sir R. llorne answered questions, amid great dico rder. Mr Asquith had practically a similar experience at Paisley. ’I he audience sting the “Red Flag,” and the meeting was brought temporarily to a standstill.

During a distrubancc tit a C'onserva tive meeting at Lambeth Baths, one

of the stewards was struck on the head with a spanner. The Chairman read the Public Mootings Act, 1908, in the presence of the podice. The meeting then became more [leacoful, and concluded wijth the National Anthem, which was followed hv “ The Red Flag.”

.Mr Ilogbin, the Lil.-eral candidate for North Battersea, was injured, hut not seriously, by a stone falling through the window of a motor car. Admiral Taylor, Conservative candi-

date for Finsbury, who commanded the “ Renown ” during the Prince of Wales’ Empire voyages, persisted for nearly two hours in an address. Eventually he was howled down. A youth shouted: “You are the man who gave the order to the sailors, ‘On your knees, you dirty dogs!’” The Admiral, clenching his lists, thundered:

“That is nil infamous lie!” He explained the slander related to an incident long before the war, wherein another ollicer being short of stature, and wishing to have his instructions understood by all his men, gave the usual gunnery order: “On the knee!” LLOYD GEORGE’S ATTACK. LONDON, October 23. The most striking of yesterday’s speeches was Mr Lloyd George’s attack mi Mr Baldwin, made at llaverI'oiil West, where he declared that the Liberals did not vote in 1923 in order to put Labour in, hut in order to put Mr Baldwin out. Mr Baldwin has made as mess of every business lie had in hand. "Wo cleared out the people who were unlit for their job,” said Mr Lloyd George. “The Tories ask for

support on the. ground of stable Government, hut Mr Asquith was in for eight years, and I was in lor six years. Mr Baldwin could not keen himself in for twelve months! lie just staggered, stumbled, and fell into the ditch.” Mr Lloyd George concluded by advising the electors to take the middle path, between Conservatism and .Socialism. A sharn controversy hits arisen owing to a statement by an unnamed ollicial at the Labour headquarters, viz: "We welcome the pact between the Conservatives and the Liberals. The sooner we have only two parties and no Liberal Party the better.” The "Daily Chronicle’” says:—"Unless Liberal voters wish the Liberal Party to he deslroted, they can in no case he justified in voting Labour.” MR BALDWIN. LONDON, Octolier 23. Mr Baldwin, the Conservative Leader. spent yesterday at the Conservative headquarters. He addressed a meeting at Gravesend to-night. He travels north ett Friday for it series of mcciings. He niß lour the Man c!;efter areas on the eve ol the poll. The “Daily Telegraph” says:—Encouraging reports continue to reach the Conservative headquarters from all over the country. The Party is striving, not only for a clear, hut a working, majority; and in order to ensure stable Government, which the country desires, it ought to register a

net gain of 7(1 seats. The ••.Morning Post” says:—-"Mr MacDonald has now stated that the Socialist Party stands absolutely olr the fulfilment of the Labour Party programme of 11)23; he, therefore, has abandoned all pretence that lie and

his colleagues are trustees ol the nation.” The “Post” says:—"lt lias become evident during the course ol the election that the spirit of revolution is aflame. If a Socialist'Government is placed in power at this time, with a majority, it would introduce Communism immediately. Moderates would he helpless.

As usual, tbe “ Daily Express ” takes a new line of its own,. It says: “Tile Conservative headquarters do not realise what is going on ill the constituencies. Whilst the ‘big guns are talking about a lawyers’ quarrel over the Campbell case or the Russian Treaty, the Socialist speakers are promising cheaper food, more doles, less work, and higher wages. II the heads of the Conservative Party will not give a lead oil reconstruction policy or Conservative social reform, their followers arc practically helpless.”

LONDON, October 23

.Seven Liberal candidates at -Manchester have signed a manifesto declaring Mr Baldwin, in view of the declarations in the Conservatives inanilesto would be justified in interpreting a Conservative victory as a mandate to impose food taxes, with a subsequent general tariff. LONDON, October 23. Election rowdyism is spreading. Colonel Sherwood-Kelly, Conservative candidate for Clayc-ross, left the platform and administered a stright left and right to the interrupter who dubbed tbe speaker a liar.

Sir A. Mond declares tin* Labmn headquarters is sending <mt bands ol trained interrupters, which shows Labour’s policy is based oil* the Russian model, breaking up meetings, and leading to a dictatorship. The Empire Producers Organisation has issued a manifesto, which says that only half Britain’s food imports at present emanate from the Empire, although the Empire can produce all that is needed. It points out the Empire takes nearly half Britain’s export of manufacturers and buys more per head than any foreign country. It urges the electors to insist on candidates supporting the fullest co-operation with oversea kinsmen for the development of a great heritage.

LIBERALS SUPPORT CONSERVATIVE^. [Reuters Telegrams.] (Received this day at S a.m.) LONDON, October 23. Five Liberal knights have signed the appeal to the Liberal electors to vote for tbe Conservatives. They support n strong constitutional anti-Sociali-st front and describe Mr Baldwin’s election addiess as a scheme of sane and progressive reform.