BRITISH ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1931, Page 6

BRITISH ELECTIONS

MR MACDONALD

OPENS SEAHAM CAMPAIGN.

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

LONDON, October 12

Mr J. R. MacDonald opened his campaign in an address to a crowded meeting at S'eaham. He said he was standing as a Labour candidate, and would be Labour till his death, though he had not always followed the dictates of the Caucus, and he was not scared to snap his fingers at policital excommunication. Th e national crisis gave men an opportunity of serving with other parties without changing their ultimate opinions. Some social organisations were determined to use the crisis for party ends. That was not playing the game. It was a denial of the very essence of the National Government. Electors of those constituencies should ignore the executives, and vote for representatives of the Government, irrespective of party. The Government must have a mandate to restore the trade balance, and solve unemployment, the figures of which this week would show considerable diminution.

CAMPAIGN NOTES. LONDON, October 13. The Labourite® expect to put up 320 candidates, including thirty women, compared with 570 in 1929. The Conservatives are supporting Mr Thomas against two Labourites at Derby. “The Times,” commenting on partisan candidates, whether fanatical free traders or fanatical protectionists declares the opposition to Sir Mao Lean is misguided. It says Mr Lloyd George’s fulmi,nations • and conclaves are responsible for the Conservative doubts of Liberal sincerity, but the carrying of partisanship to the point of opposing the Prime Minister’s colleagues, gives to Mr Lloyd George assistance he did not expect in his most sanguine moments. Lord Grey, in his statement, said it was not a question of tariffs, but of national stability versus national ruin. Referring to the Darwin election, lie said the opposition against Sir H. Samuel was unpatriotic. If it resulted ■in a Labour victory, opponents would have stabbed the nation in the back. It was a provocation to other constituencies. If the issue were to be blurred by the Conservatives, advancing protection giving the impression they were trying to exploit the national peril for party gain, nobody would be able to say what a confused democracy might do.

THE CANDIDATES

RUGBY, October 12,

The approximate numbers of candidates, according to present estimates, are as follows :—■ Conservatives 504 National Liberals 31 National Labour 21 Liberals Mosley Party 13 Labour 480 ' ELECTED UNOPPOSED. LONDON, October 13. The first members of the new Parliament are John Buchan, A. Noel Skelton (Conservative), and D. M. Cowan (National Liberal) who were elected unopposed. Sir John Mellars ha. s withdrawn from Lutton in favour of the National Liberal Burgim. Mr Baldwin thus far is unopposed. t ~ " i—iii—nwa