BRITISH ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1931, Page 5

BRITISH ELECTIONS

TARIFF ISSUE. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) RUGBY, October 21. The Prime Minister, in a message to Sir Donald MncLean (Libei al) expresses amazement that in the present crisis he (McLean) Is being opposed by a Conservative tariff reformer, and urges the support of the National Government by all, irrespective of party. Although' in several constituencies, efforts are being made to force tho electors to regard protection versus free trade, as the centra! issue of tho election, the leaders of the’National Government repudiate all attempts to tie the hands of the Government, regarding measures that may be considered necessary to correct the adverse Interviewed to-day, the Prime MinLalance of trade. ister, referring to the issues raised in the course of the campaign, other than those laid down in his manifesto, said: “I want to make it quite clear that the appeal which is being made is fer a National Government, and whatever the predominant political party in that National Government may bo, it still remains National .and not Party, and Jio party will have the right to forget its origin, and appeal, upon which it ’was elected, and turn round in the House of Commons and say, whether Labour or Liberal or Conservative, ■We’re going to pursue our own.:policy irrespective of our colleagues h with whose co-operation the election was fought on the national issue./” ‘T believe in the honour of my colleagues of all parties,” added Mr MacDonald. “Until the crisis is settled, they will not turn a national majority into a party one.”

. Mr Baldwin, at Leeds, referring to the right of Parliament to impose a permanent tariff, said no Parliament could impose anything permanently. They were prepared to examine the use of the tariff in the light of all the circumstances, and with the utmost care and impartiality, and were confident of receiving from the Liberals in tho Government, unbiased consideration of the question, but this was not the fundamental issue of the election.

LABOUR’S RELIEF. - RUGBY, October 21. The Labour Party believe that the Government, if predominantly Conservative will demand protection, and in a broadcast last night, Mr William Graham urged the electors to resist the return of the tariff Government. He repudiates the suggestion that a Labour victory would mean ruin, and denied the allegations that Lahotlr Would attack the Saviiigs of tile pet)pie> He stated, lh detail, the Labour programme, find declared that it guaranteed to balance tho budget cii sound liwis, and no inflation, it sought international peace, and also the greatest freedom of trade, PREMIER’S ELECTIONEERING RUGBY, October 21. Mr MacDonald, who is making a short tour, outside his own constituency, yesterday, spoke in support of his son Malcolm MacDonald, National Labour candidate for Bassetlaw, and to-morrow will speak in Derbv for Mr Thomas. He js saving time by flying whenever weather conditions permit.

REVENUE TARIFF INSTEAD OF DOLE CUT. ' f LONDON, October 21. How fifteen out of twenty Labour members of. the Jate Cabinet -oted for the immediate imposition of a ten per cent, revenue tariff, as an alternative to the dole cut, is revealed by lit. Hon JVlr Philip Snowden in the course of a reply to Ht.,Hon. Hr Graham’s broadcast assertion that the late Cabinet has not decided in favour of a revenue tariff. Mr Snowden says that Mr Graham and Mr Henderson were the strongest Cabinet supporters of such tariff Mr Graham had informed the Cabinet that a ten per cent, tax on manufactured and semi-manufactured imports would yield a revenue of twenty-five millions sterling yearly, and such a tax upon a.l imports'would yield sixty millions ■revenue. The Cabinet, says Mr Snowden. first voted by 15 to 5, in favour of the first proposal for a ten per cent tariff on manufactured and semi-manu-factured imports. Then it voted against levying such a duty on all imports, including food and raw material. Mr Graham, however, had supported both proposals. Thereof(Pr the tariff scheme was dropped by the late Cabinet, as unanimity was impossible, and it was feared that persistence with the plan would break up the Cabinet. £XOWDKX’ S PR ()P AG A XI) A. LOXDOX, October 22. Mr Johnston, who was a member of the late Cabinet, in a speech in reference to Air Snowden's recent disclosures, said that: “If Air Snowden continued to publish his ha i’f-truths and his untruths about the Cabinet happening. then it would be the duty of the Labour ex-members of the Cabinet to ask His Afaiesty to release them from their oath of secrecy. tb"s to enable their disclosure of all flint had happened during the closing days of Vfie Government.”

THE DOLE CUT. HOW IT CAME ABOUT. LONDON, October 22. Mr Snowden a.Uo replied to Mr Graham’s statement that both the Prime Minister and he (Mr Snowden) had to,u the late Cabinet that Mr Harrison, of New York, of the United States Federal 'Reserve Bank had insisted upon a ten per cent, cut in the British unemployment relief pay, as a condition for an American loan to Britain. Mr Snowden says that neither Mr MacDonald nor he himself had ever been in communication with Mr Harrison. What had happened wa’s 'tfiat the Bank of England had reported’" that the American Banks had ins’sted on an assurance that the Budget should be balanced, but had never insisted on, or suggested, the cut in the unemployment pay. Neither did the Bank of England insist. What they did say was ; “You must balance the budget if you want to restore foreign confidence. It is for the Government to decide what economies to make and what taxation to impose.’’ When it came to a final decision about mak’ng a ten per cent, cut in the unemployed pay (says Mr Snowden), the Prime Minister and lie! (Mr Snowden) had been authorised by the Cabinet to enquire from the Bank of 'England whether a programme totalling seventy-six millions, including a ten per cent. Dole cut would enable them to secure a necessary loan. Oil receiving an affirmative reply from the, Bank’, more than half of the Labour Cabinet were in favour of including a dole cut.

MR BALDWIN’S WORD. ■ RUGBY, October 22. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, speaking at Tam worth, referred to the question of tariffs. He said : ‘‘,l have never agreed with Mr Baldwin politically, but'know him so well that, if he says: ‘I am not going to give you a detailed pOdge, but you and I are going to work out a gentleman’s bargain, written or unwritten,’ then I will take Mr Baldwin’s word.

A PRO-GOVERNMENT FORECAST. LONDON, October 22. ' The “Evening Standard” “Diarist” has ventured- on the first forecast of the election arguing that the past week has seen a great swing towards the Government. lie suggests that the Conservative Party is likely to return three hundred and forty strong ; and the National Liberals and National Labourites sixty-five strong, thus giviijg the ■National Government a majority of 195. . SOME STIFF FIGHTS. FOR PARTY LEADERS. LABOUR LOSSES FORECASTED. London, October 22. The general election continues to go favourably for the Nut’oiial Government, Tho Labourite,i admit that they are destined for the Opposition benohes, but they are striving to secure the return of at least two hundred members. Rt. Hon. A. Henderson is having a stiff fight at Burney against Rear Admiral Campbell, a Victorian. Crosser. Mr Henderson’s speeches dwell on the work that he did as Foreign Secretary. He reads tributes to himself from the newspapers and from Foreign Ministers. Rear Admiral •Campbell is a good candidate from a National point of view. His chance depends entirely how the 12,502 Liberals votes, cast in the election of 1929 will go. The Communist is unlike.'y to get them. If they be., added to the 20,137 Conservative votes of the 1929 election, Mr Henderson w:ll be defeated.

Air J. ,H. Thomas is having an uphill fight at Derby. In his speeches, he is keeping Empire unity in the forefront. He said yesterday that he did not think a tax on food would be necessary, as nearly everything was obtainable. from the British commonwealth partners. Sir H. Samuel (Liberal Leader), is also having a stiff fight at Dareven, which is one of a number of so-cubed “pendulum” seats, which may easily revert to the Conservatives, who have refused to withdraw their strong candidate, Captain Alan Graham. Among other seats regarded as in danger is that of Aliss Ellen Wilkinson (Labour), at Afiddlesborough East, also Miss Alargaret Bondfield (Labour), seat at Wallsend and Dr Marion Phillips (Labour), at Sunderland.