BRITISH AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1931, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

PREMIER S SON. (United Prflss Association—By Electric Telegraph—Oopyrigh T .j. LONDON, Sept. 1. The ‘‘Sun-Herald’s’” political writer says:—“Mr MacDonald told h.s son, Mako'm. and other young Lahourities that the whole party was against them, and that they had betre' go wren it m their own interests. Mr Malcolm MacDonald disobeyed tin's advice, preferring to remain with bis father. It is understood that Air Malcolm MacDonald will probably be appointed Under-Secretary, for the Dominions. MR THOMAS’S EMOTION. LONDON, September 1. Mr J. H. Thomas said: “I have resigned rather than be dismissed.” It was Mr Thomas’s only comment on leaving the railwayman's meeting. Tears were streaming down Iris face. It is learned that the Trades Vvr ?0, » Congress has decided that Mr Thomas is not entitled to a pension. T.U.C. COUNCIL. LONDON, September 1. The Economic Committee of the Trade Union Congress has completed a special report on the existing political crisis for presentation to the Congress at Bristol on September 7fch, It 19 understood that it favours a revenue, tariff. It is likely that the General Council will adopt the report, which wj 11 tnus go to the Congress with a definite recommendation in favour of the tariff. The best informed observers among ■Mr Henderson’s following foresee an inevitable cleavage of opinion on the fiscal issue, and a bitter internecine controversy in that connection. MR HENDERSON. CHRISTCHURCH, September 1. A cablegram has been sent to Air Arthur '.Henderson, at present leader of the British Labour Party, congratulating him on the party’s solidity. The cable was sent by the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Socialist Party. BIG FRENCH DEFICIT. LONDON, August 31. The “Guardian’s” Paris correspondent states that France, like England, is faced wun a budget deficit, estimated at forty-eight millions sterling, owing to the diminution in revenue from taxation, and the suspension of the German annuity. A NEW ZEALAND VIEW. CHRISTCHURCH, September 1. The hope that Mr Ramsay MacDonald would again be found inside the Labour movement was expressed today by the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.), when asked if he cared to comment on Air MacDonald’s expulsion from the British Labour Party. “While the Labour movement may almost unanimously disagree with the attitude Air AlacDonald has taken,” said Air Sullivan, “I think there will be general feeling of regret at- the position that has developed and that it should be necessary to fight him and his Government on the question of the proposed curtailment of the social services. Nevertheless, Mr MacDonald has given such great service to the movement in the work of creating and developing the Labour Party in Great Britain that I feel sure he will always retain the respect and gratitude of the whole movement. If he does not retire from politics I have a feeling that he will again be found inside the fold. He is unquestionably a great man ; 1 cannot emphasise that too much, and while I differ from him in his break wjth the party.l: feel sure that he is acting within the high dictates of his conscience. I sincerely trust that when the financial position of the Old 'Coun- j try is straightened out and the Nationol Government dissolved, Air AlacDonald will be back in the firing line with the men with whom he has been associated for the past forty years.