THE BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 55, 6 November 1924, Page 2

THE BRITISH ELECTIONS.

THE result of the British elections is a great surprise to everyone. The most sanguine optimist amongst the Conservatives could never have dreamt that his party would secure such a tremendous majority; the greatest pessimist in the Labour ranks never in his most gloomy moments thought that such a severe reverse could be encountered, and who among the Liberals believed that the traditional second party of British politics would be almost eliminated at the polls from the active sphere of politics. To account for such a change in the parties attention must be given to the fact that in many cases the pact between the Conservatives and the Liberals did away with triangular contests, a state of affairs which had benefited the Labour Party at the previous election. Another difference was the main ground on which the election was fought. On the last occasion it was the tariff issue that brought about the defeat of Mr. Baldwin. This time it was the issue of anti-Socialism that was put before the electors. Inherently the British are conservative, and just as they were loath to depart from the traditions of free trade, so were they chary of endorsing the advanced views of the Labour Party in its foreign policy. In various forms the Anglo-Soviet conference figured throughout the election. From the actual conference to the latest incident coming at the eleventh hour—the Zimovieff letter the dealings with the* Soviet have aroused intense feeling* of distrust. Such was natural, for however far

ideals of world harmony might carry the visionaries, doubt remained with a very large section of the wisdom of entering into commercial relations for the flotation of large credits with only the sky for security. Russia, under Soviet rule, is a striking example of a government that wanted to eat its cake and have it, too. Twin aims of Bolshevik policy was to destroy the purchasing power of money and to annihilate capital. In both these designs it succeeded. Bolshevism made the rouble worthless, did to death that portion of its economic capital represented by instruments of production; and then repudiated its obligations. Even Mr. Macdonald was unable to stomach the proposals of the Russians. He probably realised that the price was too liig.h, and the delivery of promised benefits too uncertain, Whether the Zinovieff letter was a forgery or not time may show. But the British Government must have been aware with other sections of the community that whilst the Soviet officials avowed their friendship to Britain at the conference that Russian money was being used to foment outlaw strokes and to stir up discord within the ranks of British trades unions; to form Communist groups in every industrial plant in England; and to convert moderate Socialists into red Communists. Such was the position that the electors of Great Britain had to consider, and they showed at the polls that they were too old traders, too experienced bankers and too commonsense individuals to accept the hot end of the poker. But the huge majority of Mr. Baldwin’s party should not be allowed to obscure the real strength of the Labour Party. A party which can poll over five and a-half million votes under the conditions which governed the recent election cannot be ignored. It is a very live and potent factor. It is significant that Labour and the Liberals polled over three-quarters of a million more votes than the winning party. It can only be construed as an indication of the drift of popular opinion; and when the fact that the election was fought on a partial patriotic appeal is taken into consideration. the real strength of Labour is realised. Whether the partial elimination of the Liberals as a practical factor in politics indicates the return to the two party system with the absorption of the followers of Mr. Asquith and Mr. Lloyd George by the Conservatives and Labour time will show. The present signs are in this direction. But against this is the fact that nearly three million voters recorded their preference for Liberal candidates.