BRITISH MINISTRY

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1931, Page 5

BRITISH MINISTRY

STILL IN A QUANDRY.

(United Press Association.—By Electric

Telegraph.—Copyright.)

LONDON, September 30,

The prospects of a national appeal being made by the Government w.tli the endorsement of representatives ol three Parties appear brighter says the "Daily Telegraph's" political correspondent. " I here is an indicat on that •Mr MacDonald is carrying all the members of the Cabinet with him in favour of an early election.’ He li: s refrained from mailing any definite statement in the House of Commons. This is because mcgotialtious have been actively progressing. It is understood that Mr Lloyd George has modified his former opposition, and js now anxious to discover what limitations to the arrangements the Government would be willing to concede in return for official Liberal co-opera-tion.

LIBERAL PAPER VIEW

LONDON, October 1

The “News Chronicle,’’ referring to the election question argues that an election is unnecessary, as the Government, it says, has sufficient of a majority to carry on. Even the tariff question, should not present any obstacle with - good team work. It- adds that Mr MacDonald can get a ‘'Doctor’s’’ njandate from ‘the present Parliament.

CABINET 'HESITANT,

OYER GOING TO COUNTRY,

RUGBY, September 30. The possibility of an early electoral appeal to the country still remains in doubt. Cabinet met again this morning to consider the question. A further agreement had apparently been sought among the Conservatives and the Liberals, upon a broad national programme with which the Prime Minister would be prepared to go to the country, and which would leave him an unfettered choice of the means for dealing with any economic situation which may arise.

In the House of Commons, Mr MacDonald said that the House would adjourn on October 7th. There would be no prorogation.

Much significance is attached by the press to the fact that -Vlr MacDonald has decided to address his constituents at Seaham, Durham, on Friday. It is anticipated that by Friday the most urgent tasks demanding the personal attention of the Prime Minister will have reached a stage permitting his temporary absence from London, and that an announcement of the immediate course of events in the political field will % that time have been made. The newspapers state that efforts are continuing with the object of securing that measure of national unity which it is reported is insisted upon by the Prime Minister as a condition of his leading a. big central block, which would concentrate upon immediate national needs.

Spe.cial interest is being displayed in the attitude of the Liberals, ana in the efforts being made to find a basis of agreement, upon which their support of 'the national programme to be submitted to the electorate could he secured. Mr Lloyd George, who has been - kept informed of the developments throughout the crisis, is still reported'to be opposed to a general election at this juncture. Sir 'H. Samuel again visited him to-day at Churt, his country house in Surrey, where he is convalescing after his recent severe operation.

To a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party to-day, it was reported that a iseifies of resolutions defining the Party's policy in relation to the present political situation have been approved by the National Executive, for submission next week to the annual conference of the Labour Party, at Scarborough.

Sir Austen Chamberlain, in the Commons, .referring to the Singapore base, recognised that the financial situaton was worse than it was last year, but said the question whether stopping the running contracts would really b r ' economy was duly considered last year.

BANKING POLICY. LONDON, September 30. A resolution on the banking policy, to be submitted by the National Executive of the Labour Party to the annual conference next week, contains this passage: "The Conference would condemn either currency inflation or any fresh attempt at deflation in order to force sterling hack to the old gold parity.’

Sir Walter Layton, a prominent economist, says that this declaration by Labour, not only against deflation, but against inflation, is very satisfactory, and should helped confidence.

LIBERAL MINISTERS

LONDON, October 1

Tt is understood that five Liberal Cabinet Ministers have decided to remain in the Government, despite Mr Lloyd George’s advice.