NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1931, Page 6

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

IT’S LIMITED SPHERE. LABOUR DISSENSION’S. SUPPORT BY OONSERYA'n V ESN AND LIBERALS. TUnited Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received this day at 1.5 p.m.' LONDON, August 24. An official communique states the Prime Minister’s consultations with Messrs Baldwin, Samuel and Snowden considerably progressed regarding members of the Ministry, the specific object of which will be to deal with the existing national emergency. There will not be a coalition, in the usual sense, but a Government co-oper-ating for this one purpose after which the parties will resume their respective positions. It is expected that Parliament will be -summoned on Bth. September, when proposals will be submitted for a very large reduction of expenditure, and the provision on an equitable basis, for the further funds required to finance the Budget. As the commerce and well being, not only of the British nation, hut a large part of the civilised world -is built up and rests' on well founded confidence in sterling, the new Government will take ‘whatever steps are deemed necessary to maintain that .confidence. It is believed that Mr MacDonald is not likely to have the "support of more than forty Labour Commoners, while more than two hundred will remain with Mi' Henderson. There' is little doubt that the full Conservative strength will he behind the National admistration, likewise a great majority of the Liberals.

With unanimous Liberal and Conservative support, the National Cabinet would have a clear majority of forty,* even if the whole rank and file of .Labour went into opposition.