BRITISH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1931, Page 6

BRITISH POLITICS

POSSIBLE ACTION.

[United Press,Association. —By Electno Telegraph.—Copyright. 1

LONDON, September 30

It is stated that the Ministers are at present considering the idea oi' appealing to the country as a National Government, though without any programme, and of asking for a free hand to deal with the crisis, neither specify ing nor excluding any particular measure. This will " involve the Conservative Party sacrificing their plan oi fighting the election on a full tariff issue. On the other hand, it implies the Liberal Party’s acceptance of a tariff if one is found necessary to meet special circumstances. It is believed that the Conservative leaders are willing to agree to a manifesto on the widest lines ever issued by the Government.

LAEOUR PARTY.

EXPELS PREMIER AND FOLLOWERS.

LONDON, September 29

The Executive of the Labour Party has decided that all Labour members supporting the National Government will automatically cease to be members of the Party.

Thus Messrs MacDonald, Snowden Thomas, Jowitt and ten other members of Parliament are expelled .from the Labour Party. THE CUTS BILL. RUGBY, September 29.

Moving the third reading of the Economy Bill in the House of' Commons Sir A. Steel-Maitland said that it was designed for an emergency that demanded quick and decisive action. He asked the House to recognise that the late Government had agreed to nine out of ten of the economies now preposed, and that this fact might be a very great benefit to the country, in vfew of developments, which were bound to come, and which not only this country, but ,otlier countries, bud to face. A crisis would confront nearly every country in the world. It was not really a difficulty that could be sur mounted, leaving the world just as it was before. These difficulties were really the pain that went before the birth of a new state of affairs. Within ten years from now, there would be a regime of international agreement on ecoomies and finance, Surpassing anything hitherto contemplated. This (pies tion would equal, if not surpass, the importance of the question of armaments. Gold would have to he dealt with, as would international lending of capital, and quite possibly concerted action for preventing undue fluctuation in credit. That kind of action was coming, and would quite intimately 'affect the welfare of the masses of the people in all the different countries, and would affect intimately employment and the standard of life. When this development came, Britain would naturally be fitted to play possibly a leading part. He urged that use should be made of the large’ measures of agreement which existed so th'«t the country might face the future and gain a thorough influence, which it could use in shaping the new era on which the world had just entered. Sir Stafford Cripps, moving the rejection of the Bill said that much of the justification had vanished when tli 3 country went off the gold tsamhud and the fact that a crisis existed in the world did not necessarily -’all for hasty and unwise legislation, and the granting to Ministers of mode emergency powers. The third reading was carried by 297 votes to 242. AN ARTIFICIAL PANIC. TO STAMPEDE THE COUNTRY. LONDON, September 29. In the House of Commons, Sir Stafford Cripps, speaking on the third reading of the Economy Bill, said that not a single argument has justified the bill The Government, he said, continued f» foster the spirit of panic, which had brought this Government into existence. The Government were rushing -through the cut before the country woke up to the significance of what was being done. The Government wants to go as far as it could in depressing the standard of life. r lhe opposition refused to be stampeded by catchwords.

The Bill was read the third time by 297 votes to 242. A DICTATORSHIP? RUGBY, September 29. The Prime Minister is reported to be deeply convinced of the desirability of meeting th eproblems confronting the country with a Government as fully represenaive as possible of all three politeial parties. In face of a situation that is likely to remain fluid for some time to come he does not wish to stand committed before hand to any precise formula, whetliei free trade or tariffs, and is willing to employ any means which may best serve the national purpose This desire to remain unfettered by hard-and-fast political creeds has been crvstalised into the phase, “Doctor’s mandate.”

Employing this metaphor, the “Times” expressed the view: “The nation’s need is the physician’s cuie of himsel’f, because he has access to all the resources of medicine without exception, and because he has been able to enlist the sole confidence

of the patient. Support for the_Prime Minister on such a basis.” says the, “Times” “must entail real political sacrifices, but confidence was enough' £o produce national recovery. The situation requires a Government, equally broul and representative.” Mr MacDonald had an hour’s audience with the King. Later, be presided at a meeting of the Cabinet. It. is believed that the question under examination by the Cabinet, which is still sitting, is whether there should be any general election.