BRITISH CRISIS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1931, Page 5

BRITISH CRISIS

A WARNINC.

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.]

LG*. DON, August 27

The Daily Express, in an editorial, warns the Socialists that if, in the new situation, tiny adopt tactics of mere obstruction, and set their movement, with its theories of lesser loyalties, against the good of the country, they will not only forfeit the support and respect of the electorates, but will put back the whole Labour movement for a decade.

SUPPORT FOR A TARIFF

LONDON, August 27

The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr Henderson’s, difficulties, lie in the fact that the ex-Ministers have already agreed to a large proportion of the economies which the new Cabinet will, in due course, submit to the House of Commons.

Another difficulty is that a new split is threatened in the Labour ranks on the subject of a revenue tariff, which a section of the 'Labour Party will press as one of alternative proposals to the unemployment cuts,

TEN PER- CENT. CUT

PREMIER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

RUGBY, August 26,

In a broadcast address, Mr R. MacDonald said: "I have given my life to building up the /Labour political party. At this moment, I have changed none of my belief, and none of my ideals. It is the proposal to cut clown the unemployment benefit that troubles most people. The proposal now is, as part of the urgently required national saving, that these benefits should be reduced by 10 per cent., but the children’s allowance should not be touched. That looks pretty big, but remember, during the last two years, the cost of living has been reduced by 14 per cent. It is better to ask the unemployed to’ go back, not fully, but very nearly to the standards of only two years ago, than stand rigidly for the present rate, and run the risk of injuring credit and the people’s purchasing power as well.

“We are told this is a bankers’ conspiracy, or something of the kind, against the Labour Government. We have never been presented with any political ultimatum. We have never found in the attitude or conversation of those with whom we were negotiating, any political bias, one way or another'. One thing, and one thing only, will put British credit in a position of security, at this moment. That is a scheme* consisting of economies on the one side, and further revenue on the other, A scheme well balanced, With the burdens imposed as light as possible, but imposed equitably, That scheme will be produced,"

OPPOSITION TO NATIONAL cabinet. LONDON, August 27. The executive of the Ministers Federation decided to support Trades Union. Council in opposing the Government.