BRITISH ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1929, Page 5

BRITISH ELECTIONS

MR BALDWIN

United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

(Received this day at 10. a.m.) LONDON, April 18

Premier Baldwin, addressing two thousand Conservative leaders and organisers at Drury Lane Theatre, outlined the electoral programme and entire Cabinet platform. Mi-Baldwin aroused general laughter by beginning: “Mr Lloyd George lias siiid the Liberal Party is a party of promises. 1 accept that. lam no competitor. \Ye are performers.”

M,r Baldwin continued: “This country has far to go in the direction of being humanised.” He repeated the pledge not to introduce protection and not to impose any taxes on food, and outlined further slum-clearing and educational reforms. “Ours is a policy of sobriety,” he said. “We promise nothing we cannot perform.” Mr Baldwin went on to emphasise the seriousness of the industrial situation. The general strike proved a crisis in 1926, but masters and men had been getting together. The Conservatives efforts had been directed at getting men permanent employment. The Government had decided definitely against a scheme which would lead to large borrowing, believing it ran the risk of causing an inflation of the market, which would make the cost of living rise. The Government was trying, by arrangement with the Dominion Governments, to make it easier for men and women to go to the Dominions and overseas colonies. (Cheers). It was now possible for practically all boys in the depressed areas, if their parents veio willing, to be transferred to districts where there was employment. The Government was appointing a Commission to advise the development of colonial territories.

Returning to the problem of unemployment, Mr Baldwin pointed out reorganisation was going on in all industries and as a result Britain was recovering competitive power. As progress was maintained, unemployment would continue to fall. A factor which would he of great assistance in the next five years would he that owing to the falling »t the birth rate during the war, there would he several hundred thousand fewer entrants into industry than was custo-

mary

LABOUR’S INTENTIONS

(Received this day at I.;> n.ni.' LONDON, April 18

In the Commons, speaking on the Dominions Office vote, Mr J. Tl. Thomas said it had been declared that if Labour wore returned, a disintegration ol the Empire was inevitable. A Conservative member: “What about last night?”

Mr Thomas said there would be no running away from that. Ihe time was long past when the Union Jack could be considered the prerogative of a particular party. The suggestion of disintegration could best he answered by the record ol Labour while in office, also, what were its intentions when returned to power in June. He quoted the settlement of the Irish free State difficulty, how an Imperial bounty had been dealt with, also the Indian problem in South Africa. Labour had been misrepresented on migration. He did not suggest migration as a solution ol unemployment, hut it was undeniable that it could he made to effect n contribution therefore. We must face the real difficulties of the position. AusI trnlin and New Zealand must ho asked

to apply themselves to the problem as it affected them. Labour’s main object, if returned, would not he the disintegration of tlie Empire, hut the consolidation and progress of the heritage of which we all are proud. He moved that the original vote ho reduced by 0100.