BRITISH ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1931, Page 5

BRITISH ELECTIONS

SNOWDEN'S ATTACK. ON LABOUR PARTY. (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) ! RUGBY, October 1(5. ( A vigorous attack on the Opposition leaders was made by Mr Snowden in n letter addressed to the National candidates wishing them success. M'. Snowden says: The issue is "whether the country shall have a strong stable Government in the time of national peril, or whether its destinies shall be handed over to men whose conduct in n serious national crisis, proved their \ unfitness to be trusted with responsibility. 'The choice which the Labour Government had to make at the end ot August was whether we would put the welfare of the country heiore other considerations, and take the necessary and unpleasant measures to protect the financial and economic stability of the nation, or whether we would shirk the duty, and bow to the dictation of the Trade Union caucus. Some of us, all of whom have a lifetime service in the Labour movement, decided to put the country before party "We also knew that unless we faced up to the crisis all we had worked for and won in social amelioration, would be lost, and further advance rendered impossible. The crisis has not passed, but the mopfc dangerous time was averted by the action which the National Government I has taken.” Mr Snowden declares the Opposition election manifesto has’ no relation to the present national emergency, and adds: “The same men who issued the Labour Party appeal against tariffs proposed and voted in the late Laboui Cabinet for immediate imposition of tariffs.” Mr Snowden calls for full support on behalf of the National Government “to show the world the united determination to see the country through the- present difficulies.” THREE-CORNERED FIGHTS. LONDON, October 17. A three-cornered fight will occur in Dawen electorate, the contestants being: Sir Herbert Samuel (NationalLiberal), Captain Graham (Conservative), and Mr C. Rothwell (Labour), k The Seaham candidates" areMr ' Ramsay MacDonald (National Labour), Mr William Coxon (Labour), Mr George Lumley (Communist.) i For Burnley, the candidates are:— Rear-Admiral Campbell (Conservative) Rt. Hon. Arthur Henderson (Labour), Mr James Ruston (Communist). LONDON, October 17. The Australian press review of the election in England says: Only a full week remains before the polling. Thus far there have been no signs of what - the ex-Minister, Rt. Hon. Mr Graham, J prophesied would be a most, savage election, but, maybe the closing days will see some change. At present there is much less excitement than usual. The electors, on this occasion know X.'here they stand and are unlikely to be shaken. The fact is that the bulk of nation is determined that there shall be no more Labour rule. Most of the “Intelligensia,” which flocked to Labour in the 1928-29 election, is lost to the cause. Educated girl workers are also lost. Middle class people, who, for various reasons, voted Labour in 1929, are likewise lost. The bulk of the .small, shopkeeping class, who formerly were largely Liberal, are los , V and even some of the Trade Unionists. Indeed the Labour force is benefit of powerful auxiliaries, and is now composed almost wholly of the general body of the trade Unionists, and all of the dole drawers. The Liberal candidates nominated on Friday represent all shades between the extreme points of free trade and protection. The only test will be the votes in Parliament of those who survive the election. Mr Lloyd George clearly hopes that the next Parliament will contain sufficient Liberal Freetraders to enable them, in conjunction with the Labourites, to defeat tariffs, or at least to make them a most difficult accomplishment. The Labour Party s campaign is nob being managed with conspicuous skill. The Labour cry about the -bankers is largely being wasted, because of its being effectively answered by Messrs MacDonald, Snowden and others, they saying the hankers have inot interfered. What did happen is being explained by Colonel L. .9. Hanhury, a director of the ■yf-i j;,, n k 0 f England, who says: “We, as financiers, went to the Socialist Government, and advised it of an enormous withdrawal of gold taking place. The Cabinet said: ‘What do you suggest? What policy can you offer?’ We replied: ‘That is not our business. You are the Government. You have to decide the policy.” What this week will yield none can guess, hut there is a feeling that the National Government is assured of (Such a. majority as will convince the world, that the people of Great Brittain are prepared to take any measures calculated to restore credit and afford a. proof of a return to sound finance for which the Conservatives stand.

PARTY EXPECTATIONS. LONDON, October 17. The Conservatives expect to hold practically every seat, and also to win from sixty to eighty seats. The Socialists hope to win a dozen peats, where they are fighting National Labour candidates, but recognise that thw will lose from forty to eighty moots where there are straight-out contests. The Simonite Liberals hope to win several seats where tliev have straightput fights against Socialists.

OVER 1300 STANDING. HOW CANDIDATES ARE CLASSIFIED. LONDON, October 17. Details of the election nominations a re: Conservative Party 53 7 Liberals under Sir J. Simon 37 All Other Liberals 123 National Labour Yl New Mosley Party 23 Labour Party 514 Communist Party 25 Other Canclid.ites 20 The newspapers vaiv in regard to their classification of the candidates, but the above summary is generally accepted. There are more than 40-0 fewer candidates than there were at last election when the total was 1730 candidates. 410 STRAIGHT-OUT CONTESTS. LONDON, October 17. There are 4.10 straight-out fights as compared with ninety-four straight-out fights in 1929 election, when there were 444 three cornerc-d contests. The t-hres-cornerd contests at the present election number 99. There are also 2« quadrangular contests this time, including the Whitechapel contest, where there are two Labour candidates. Another quadrangular contest is that for Peckham, the candidates being: Lord Beatty’s son, Viscount Borodale, as a Conservative; Mr Tetler, a National Labour candidate, while Mr Beckett is standing as Labour, and Mr B<ymmonfc is «1.0 Labour. OLIvER BALDWIN. LONDON, October 17. There is an unprecedented position which has arisen at Chatham, where the Mosleyite candidate, Mr Marty nWoodroffe is not yet twenty-one years of age. His opponents, Sir Park Goff (Conservative) and Mr Oliver Baldwin, vvho is the Labour candidate. The two latter are contemplating seeking an injunction from the High Court to prevent Mr Woolroffe from continuing in the contest on the grounds of liis infancy. UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES. (LONDON, October 16. Tlie states of the parties thus far is as follows:—Conservatives, fortysix ; National-Liberal, seven; Labour, six; Liberal, four . Among the above unopposed candidates are : —The Speaker, Captain Fitzroy (Daventry), Sir Frederick Thomson (Aberdeen), Sir Robert Hamilton (Orkney and Shetlands). Sir Hilton Young (Seven Oaks), Mr MacQuiston (Argyle-Aneurin), Mr Bevan (Monmouth), Viscount Castlereagh (County Down), Lord Stanley (Flyde), Sir lan MacPherson (Ross and Cromarty), Mr Arthur Michael Samuel (Farnham), Rt. Hon. Walter Runciman (St. Ives), the Marquis of Hartington (West Derbyshire), Major Glyn (Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s private secretary, (Abington), Captain Bourne (Oxford).

A LABOUR STATEMENT. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, October 18. Mr Snowden knows the statement that Labourites voted for immediate tariffs, travesties the facts said Mr Henderson at Accrington. There was never any question of a majority of Cabineters approving of the principle of a tariff. It was simply the question of the lesser of two evils. Mr Snowden evidently wants to commit his ex-colleagues to every tentative suggestion during the Jong complicated conversations. Why does not he apply the same standards to Mr MacDonald. OTHER DISCUSSIONS. LONDON, October 18. Mr Graham at Edinburgh, declared j all thfe majority Cabineters said was they would rather support a small revenue tariff than the dole cut. They also insisted that such a choice was utterly unnecessary ankl later abandoned the whole idea of a tariff. Lord Cecil of Oman, is unopposed for Oxford University. Conservatives have now returned forty-nine. Herbert Willison (Liberal candidate for Nunetoli) has joined the Simonites who umv number forty. MR COSGRAVE’S FURTHER APPEAL. (Received this day at S n.m.) LONDON, October 17. Mr Cosgrave later stated.—lt is our sincere hope that Irish common sense and innate sanity will reduce the minimum use of the strong powers and drastic punishment. He reoppealed to parents and others who had a special responsibility toward the young men and women who were induced to join the associations not realising the extent of the dastardly programme which was condemned by every Christian minded man. He added that the State must protect the people from everything involving decay or downfall of the Irish Nation. Misguideds need not fear punishment if they seize this opportunity and recognise the laws and good of the State, as the only sure means of achieving ultimate happiness and prosperity. , A special edition of "An lobracht’ appearing innnediat dy after tue passage of the Bill urged Republicans to stai d fast and adopt a policy of pass.ve endurance.