BRITISH ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1929, Page 5

BRITISH ELECTIONS

BEFORE THE POLL. . ISSUE VERY UNCERTAIN. (Lnitod Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph —Copyright ) LONDON. May 29. To-day is the Inst- day of the General Election campaign. To-night the last words will have been spoken. Tomorrow the people of Britain will go to the polls to give their verdict, i. which will affect not only Britain, but the furthermost outposts of the Empire. * On the eve of the election, the Conservative Party’s headquarters maintain confidence that the Government will emerge with a working majority, but they recognise that it* will he necessary to poll their ifull strength throughout the country. MB BALDWIN. URGES ALL TO VOTE. LONDON, May 29. The Prime Minister, Mr Baldwin. ' sets out this morning on a whirlwind tour of Lancashire. He is expected tb 1 make twelve speeches, winding up with one to be broadcast to the natidn thisifevening from Manchester. L-Speaking at Runcorn yesterday, Mr Baldwin pointed out what the country’s' choice means, saying Britain will be 'carrying' out a great experiment in democracy. Our franchise is now based on adult suffrage. We are the greatest democracy in the world, and must make the experiment a success. TKeV 'have made it tness of it •in Russia.., They have a kind of dictatorship* in ■ Italy. It' may he good for Italy, but we here are .going to have no dictatorship. We have got to govern ourselves or bust. Therefore, whatever party you favour, I want you to do one tiling—vote! ” The Conservative Leader then pro- ' ceeded to say tlifit they should continue to work for peace at home and abroad, for the matters of the health of people, and for education. He said that the corner had been turned, after the most fearful • period of depression ever’.' known. The unemployment figures>'were' now falling, not because ol any short-term remedy, hut owing to the absorption of the • unemployed to permanent, sound employment, which was the only remedy. • • • ’ LLOYD GEORGE’S' EXPECTATION. ,/ ?i LONDON, May 29. Mr Lloyd George, in an interviewsaid that he does not ‘ expect the Liberal Party to have a majority, but says that he will be satisfied if between ninety and one hundred Liberals are returned, which would enable them to hold- the; balance of power. He states that he is firmly convinced • of. a great Liberal revival. Mr Lloyd George remarked: “ There are 332 industrial seats. The Socialists must win nearly all of these if tlie.V' are' to' be the strongest party. I do not think that the Conservatives will get more than ten of these. The issue, therefore,' is how many seats can the Liberals win from Labour. Labour will win a few seats, hut only a few, outside off the industrial areas. Whatever happens, 1 do not think that the Conservatives will win more than 220 seats. I expect that the Liberals will poll as many vote's as the Conservatives, but I cannot say how many seats we will win. The Socialists may poll'a greater number of votes than either the Conservatives or the Liberals, but I shall be disappointed if the Liberals are not equal to the Conservatives in the voting aggregate. Certainly I do not expect any party to have a clear majority over the other two.” LONDON, May 29. The Rotliermere press has at last broken its silence with the cry:— “ Keeping the Socialists out.” It is arguing that the electors should vote for the Conservative or for the L.ueral candidate, which ever has the better chance of capturing'and retaining a seat. /fhe Beaverbrook press continues its own campaign ; for the reconditioning off thp railways. It says that the next Parliament should he a Parliament of industry. The rest of the press follows the party lead. L. GEORGE’S FINAL APPEAL. CONDON, May 29. The Liberal Leader, Mr D. Lloyd George, speaking at Llandudno,A\ ales, said: ‘‘Three months ago, on behall of mv colleagues, I gave a pledge to reduce the unemployment to normal within one year. T Rave my plans and figures. I challenged the Prime Minister to produce a single expert to say my proposals wore unworkable. He has not answered it. I ask you, as a last appeal, to say this uneni--1 ployment must cease.” SUPPORT FOR LLOYD GEORGE. LONDON, May 29. An election manifesto, signed by 115 industrialists, expresses approval of Mr Lloyd George’s unemployment proposal, and urges the support ol electors. LONDON, May 29. John Ward (ex-Labour) speaking at Stoke-on-Trent, stated that the Socialists were determined to end free speech, and lie had decided to cancel his meetings in consequence of organised hooliganism. LIVELY MEETINGS. LONDON, May 29. During a free fight at an open air meeting at Islington, the Conserve-

tive candidate, Mr Tom Howard, w-as pulled from a van and stunned. He was rescued by the police.

A riot occurred at a Conservative meeting at Liverpool. Two of the stewards were taken to the hospital suffering from razor wounds.

MR MacDONALD’S OPTIMISM. LONDON, May 29. The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr J. Ramsay MacDonald, in a speech broadcasted from Newcastle-on-Tyne, declared: “There are only two parties 'from which a Government can be drawn, the Conservative Party and the Labour Party.” Fie continued: “Give Labour a chance! I and my colleagues wish to take up the work where we had to leave it in 192*1. Wo wish to deal with the unemployment; to develop our national resources; and to establish peace here and throughout the world.” ..Ir .vine Donald added: "f have visited tiie country from end to end, and I have seen enough to hid me to he of good cheer! ” (Received this day at 8 a.m.) PARIS, May 29. .Mi- Ramsay MacDonald, interviewed j liy “Le Matin” regarding Mr Philip Snowden’s speech (cabled on Kith April), Mr MacDonald stated: “The unhappy discord between 1' ranee and Britain was largely due to the fact I bat had not exchanged sufficient frankness of views on mutual interests. Does Franco realise that the money loaned to her during the war had become a heavy burden, weighing down on industry. When we view her industrial prosperity and progress We •ire a little hurt. We see our sneri'ices and burdens are not appreciated u'ly, our debts preventing economic •e-establishment. That’s Mr Snowden’s feeling, so do not deceive yourselves. Air Snowden’s speech represents so widespread a sentiment throughout Britain that Mr Churchill has decided it is undesirable to say more. The Labour Party were nevei anti-French.” (Received this day at 8.30. a.m.) LONDON, May 30. Mr MacDonald continued—lf returned to office he would make an international appeal equitable to France, America and Britain. “We must lead: not follow.” “Lc Petit Pnrisien ” interviewed Mr Baldwin who said: “Whatever Government is elected; he hoped it would remember that Britain kept her word.”