BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

LLOYD GEORGE’S THREAT. RIDICULED BY TORY PRESS. “A DICTATOR WITH A 1 TO 10 MINORITY. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, June 14. Mr Lloyd George’S; first speech aftor the election is set out with headlines in all of the uon-Liberal papers as an ultimatum and Tt has drawn some caustic comments. The Morning* Pest says: Mr Lloyd George, with his minority of fiftyeight members in the House of Commons claims that lie can dictate » policy—that is, to govern through the Government. A dictator who is proposing to govern the country by means of a one-to-ten minority has no right to complain of democratic inequalities of the electoral system, . since lie is himself a “stultification of democracy.”

The Daily Telegraph says: What galls Mr Lloyd George is that neither Mr Baldwin nor Mr MacDonald has made any overtures for Liberal support. Ho wanted to say that he had had an offer, and remained neutral from choice. The present position is one much. the. same as that in 1924, which Mr Llyod George vowed would never recur. Now, apparently, lie Is prepared to support the. Socialists in everything short of nationalisation, if he gets electoral reform. It is a safe prediction that the Liberals in the new House will neither vote, nor abstain from voting, unitedly on crucial issues if Lloyd George carries out bis threat to precipitate a premature election. It will be the Liberals and not Labour, that will suffer at the hands of, an outraged electorate. The country has confidence in the Government and if wants to see it. given a. fair chance to make good.