BRITISH AFFAIRS A LABOUR VIEW

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1931, Page 5

BRITISH AFFAIRS

A LABOUR VIEW

(United Press Association—By Electric felegra pb—Oopyrigb ■'•).

LONDON, September 3.

LieutonaJit-Coni mender, tlie Hon. J. M. Keiiwoi thv (Member- for Kirkhlcly), in a letter to the Hull Labour Party-, says: “The crisis is not one of the Government’s making. The difficulty lias been caused by the financial houses. The French and the American bankers have dictated the way in which Britain’s Budget should be balanced, which is an intnlerabe tiling. We arc in for the hardest struggle. A general election may be held soon, but the issue is a simple one. Namely: Whether Parliament is supreme, or the City of London, Wall Street, and the Enrique De France. The Labour Party is fighting a small oligarchy of financiers.” FASCISM IN BRITAIN. —“ « LONDON, September 3. Mr Maxton, M.P., as the leader of the Labour Party extremists, writing in “The New Leader,” says: “The National Government, will fail to do more than to find temporary solutions for the immediate troubles. The people had better prepare their minds for a se-mi’-Fascist regime. It is obvious that new, revolutionary tactics must he adopted by the Labour Opposition.* EIGHT LABOURITES SUPPORT MACDONALD, LONDON, September 3. The .following Labourites are supporting Mr MacDonald:—Messrs Snowden, Thomas, Jowitt, Aitc-hison, Hoi ford, Knight Malcolm MacDonald, Lovat-Fraser, and Gillett. The latter has declared: “The defeat of the Government would cause a financial panic-. Accordingly I felt that I must follow Mr MacDonald's wise example.” NEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE. RUGBY, September 2. The Minister of Labour (Sir H. Batterton), after consultation with the Trades Union Congress, employers’ organisations, "and the Treasury, appoint, ed an advisory committee to consider the report on the method of dealing with anomalies which are in operation unddl' the Unemployment Insurance Acts. Lord Burnham will preside over the Committee, which consists of members of trade unions, employers and the Treasury. CONVERSION LOAN.

TO BE PURELY OPTIONAL. LONDON, September 2. The Stock Exchange had a more confident tone following on the announcement that the forthcoming war loan conversion will be purely voluntary, also that fixed interest bearing securities will not be singled out for taxation. Commenting on the improved tendency on the Stoc-k Exchange to-dav. the evening papers refer to- the growth of confidence, due to the obvious determination of the Government to press on without delay with the scheme for balancing the Budget. While speculation as to the main features of the pro, posals continues, there is general recog nition that no definite statement re garding any part of the Cabinet's plan will be made until it is completed and placed before Pariament. It is officially announced that a special session of Parliament has been summoned to meet on September 8. Mr MacDonald, in a letter to the Seaham branch of the Labour Party, regrets its resolution was passed in ignorance of the facts. “The position of my colleagues and myself was dictated by a determination to maintain the maximum standards of living and pay. Any action I take in response to any resolution will be only after I have finished my present duty.” Mr Holford Knight, Labour member for South Nottingham, has informed the local parfcv that he reserves his decision on his attitude to the new Government until the proposals come before Parliament. The only test he will apply, he said, is how far they satisfy national necessities, and he repudiates dictation by the Party caucus.