BRITISH ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1929, Page 5

BRITISH ELECTIONS

VARIOUS VIEWS

(United Press Association -By Electric

lolegraph—Copyright)

LONDON, April 19

The “debt repudiation” debate has been temporarily relegated to tbe background by Air Baldwin’s delivery of his policy speech. Nevertheless there is every indication that it will again Hare as a prominent) election issue, more especially in view of the fact that Air Baldwin’s programme does not contain any outstanding issue likely to locus the attention of the country.

Labour certainly intends to capitalise tbe debt issue.

Mr Philip Snowden, in a lobby interview, said that throughout the election campaign he would continue to criticise the Balfour Note. He had received a large number of letters, including some from Conservatives, approving of bis policy. He was convinced, be said, that the Government lias made Labour tbe gift 'of an excellent election card.

It was now apparent that the debts question will be a vital appeal. Many people are, rightly or wrongly, under the impression that much of the country’s depression is due directly to that factor,

AVith one or two exceptions, Mr Baldwin’s programme finds an unresponsive echo in the press, though that is scarcely accepted as a reliable’ guide. It is interesting to note that there has been a reaction on the Stock Exchange indication lefore and after Mr Baldwin’s policy speech. In anticipation of the speech, tbe Conservatives’ stocks advan ed by three p.ints and those of Labour fell by four points. After tbe speech, however, tbe Conservatives receded three points and Labour gained two points. LONDON. April 19.

The Prime Minister. Air Baldwin, in the course of his policy speech, forecasted the return of the Conservative Party with a majority of fifty.

The “Daily Herald’’ (Labour organ) describes Mr Baldwin's appearance on the stage at Drury Lane as “tbe tragic spectacle of a commonplace performer, grinding out dreary nothings for anxious people who arc looking for aid.” It says: “Air Baldwin starts with the thesis that the main duty of tbe Conservative statesmen is to do nothing for the masses. The country is sick and tired of his sentimental rhapsodising.”

PE ESS COMMENT.

LONDON. April 19. The “Daily Express,” which lias been long .insistent that unemployment is tbe paramount issue in Britain, says: “The references being made to the re-

sponsibilites of Empire and to the * need , for consistent development are excellent, but the references being made to the unemployment are only casual and superficial, which shows that tbe politicians have not genuinely applied their minds thereto, and that they seem to 1,-e unconscious that this, is the supreme issue, not only at the general election, hut to our social and industrial state.”

LONDON, April 10. The “Daily Chronicle” says: Mr Baldwin has lived up to his reputation of being an honest man. He has told his party that he could not promise a policy, because hi* did not have one.

ELECT! ON PREDfCTION

BY MR BALDWIN

('Received this day at 9. a.m.) LONDON. April 19

Mr Baldwin’s prediction in his Drury Lane speech that the Conservatives will he returned to power by the same majority as Disraeli had in 1574, is as the “ Times ’’ points out, the first official estimate of the party’s general election prospects. In 1874 the Commons consisted of (552 members, ol whom 352 were Conservatives, 242 Liberals, 58 Nationalists. Disraeli, therefore,’had a clear over-all majority of 52. Mr Baldwin, Adds the “'limes,” thus ranged himself with those Conservatives who believe the party will not he less than 330 members out of f>ls in the new Parliament, or in other words, M.r Baldwin is prepared to see the party lose seventy or eighty seats.