NINE SEATS UNDECIDED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 679, 3 June 1929, Page 1

NINE SEATS UNDECIDED

Labour Leads by Thirty-three BRITISH GENERAL ELECTION Speculation About the Future (Australian and, N.Z. Press Association) (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) LONDON, Sunday. r£ General Election results now to hand total 606. This leaves nine seats to he filled, of which one—the Rugby division of Warwickshire—will be contested at a by-election next month. That course has been necessitated by the death of a candidate for the constituency named.

The state of parties on the figures for the 606 decided seats is as follows':— Labour .. •• - 287 Conservatives 254 Liberals 57 Others 5 Seventeen seats were still unaerounted for at 10.30 p.m. yesterday, aameb. Rugby, five Scottish constituencies and 11 Universities. At a late hour Last night the parties’ gains and losses were: Gains Losses Labour 128 4 Conservatives .... 3 142 Liberals ...... 30 20 Others ........ 3 2 The aggregate votes cast as counted lo date are: Conservatives .. .. .. 5,536,835 Labour •• •• •• .. .. 8,317,025 Liberals 5,226,614 Others - 307,931 Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, Leader of the Labour Party, had a remarkable reception on his arrival at London from Seaham Harbour, where he had the largest majority of any constituency in Britain. Toward the hour at which his train was due all the streets round King’s Cross Station were impassable. A platoon of police managed to protect the Labour Leader, who reached his home at Hampstead worn out, and craving only for sleep. Both he and Mr. Lloyd George are now resting at home. The Liberal Leader will in a few days be consulting his supporters. It is understood that Mr. MacDonald has already drafted his Ministry. Mr. MacDonald, in an interview, Said: "If I can prevent it there will be no disturbance of the country by a Iresh election for two years. I am most concerned with the quiet development of industry of a peaceful kind and confidence at home and abroad. "The new Parliament should last Sven longer than two years, but we are not going to submit to unfairness or to stand any ‘monkeying.’ It will rest with the other parties whether there is to be an early fresh election. LEADERS TO CONSULT COLLEAGUES "Any Government responsible for national affairs at this time should be allowed to develop a policy. The way in which my foreign policy was broken in 1924 should not recur. I was only able to start it and had to leave it to others to develop. They did that as regards Locarno and the admission of Germany to the League of Nations. Then they dropped it. "I shall exchange views with my colleagues at the week-end.” Interviewed by a representative of the “Sunday Times.” Mr. MacDonald said: “I think the Labour Party, being the largest of the three, ought to he the one to form a Government.” -Mr. Philip Snowden said the most sanguine hopes of the Labour Party had been realised. This was not merely an eclipse of the Conservative Tarty, but probably foreshadowed the eclipse of Mr. Baldwin himself as Its leader. “GREAT PARTY RUINED” Mr. J. L. Garvin, editor of the “Observer,” who had long warned the Government that it was alienating Liberal support, by which it secured its huge majority in 1924, now declares mat the great party has been plunged into niin, in the name of “safety first." It is useless, he says, to blame any Mrtieular Minister. The whole atmosphere of the Cabinet was to blame h was a Cabinet of complacency, it i* T6r a Cabin et more admire •melf. it contained an unusual proportion of men not visibly inspired. - r. Baldwin ignored entreaties to reconstruct it.

BALDWIN SILENT

advisers divided in two CAMPS HIS RESIGNATION URGED GtustvoJion and N.z. Press Association) ‘ lec d. 12.5 p.m. LONDON, Sunday, kaia 3 ® rene isolation at Chequers, Mr. tatn i during the week-end kept stlfl r ' lewers at bay, but by no means wha, t, a *" e it er of conjecture as to bn h advise Cabinet tomorrow, had Ii ® atur day and again today he servat-. s con ference with the Conson U v’ e ? an >' manager, Mr. Davidwbo iike his leader can play the Irnm a B Pbinx, so no lead came Chequers. showt 8 ** 1 at sstminster and the clubs Au,t O * g .° od deal o£ s Uo»Port for Sir Baidu? Chamberlain's hppe that Mr. tbs r ,„, n face the House and put are „-? S on tbe Liberals; but others mediat? 1 Mr - Baldwin to resign imthe „ and 80 deprive Labour of Seated* ® paf by-winning cry of a deadvocat rt ' c * in 8' n S to office. These ihe S a new significance in. e lectin„ Sag t ’ n r - Baldwin’s last pre)sn 8t broadcast. “The country G «ore*« 058 between Mr. Lloyd >lll -J " Ir - MacDonald and me. 1 “'-cept the verdict.” This sen-

tence at the time was merely regarded as an expression of the obvious, but it is now interpreted as meaning that Mr. Baldwin had made up his mind to resign if the party were beaten. Mr. Lloyd George had a stream of visitors at his country home. It is remarked that his party is slightly stronger numerically, but is infinitely stronger in personalities; in fact, he has rather an embarrassment in that capable lieutenants are all leaders in affairs. It will take their resource and skill to shape a policy prior to June 25. Some quarters are inclined to see in Mr. MacDonald's gestures bait for Liberal co-operation in letting him tackle unemployment. Mr. Philip Snowden says Mr. Lloyd George “pinched” Labour’s scheme for

reducing the workless. Whether this is true or not, Mr. MacDonald has since ascribed the defeat of the Conservatives to their failure to grapple with the greatest humanitarian issue. He says that if a Labour Ministry takes the front bench it will shoulder the task immediately. Whether or not this is a political straw, showing the way of the wind, is a matter of mere conjecture. Having disposed of the affair of the ballot box, the country seems next intent on having its relaxation on Derby Day, till when nothing may happen politically. In the meantime, the “Morning Post." has a final editorial tilt entitled “Enemies in Disguise,” in which it assails the Beaverbrook and Rothermere Press for their sit-on-the-rail election tactics, especially in relation to the latter’s slogan, “Keep out the Socialists”—with the only result that the new House is dominated by Socialists. THIRTEEN WOMEN NINE OF THEM LABOUR MEMBERS UNRETURNING COMMONERS (Australian and -V.Z. Press Association) LONDON, Sunday. Altogether more than 130 former members of the House of Commons will not return there. The candidates returned include 13 women, namely: Xjabour 9 Conservatives 3 Liberals 1 The one Liberal is Miss Megan i Lloyd George. The Labour candidates at this election probably are of a higher iutelleci tual average than formerly. Manyable men and women are among the i new members. FORFEITED DEPOSITS Altogether, 115 candidates forfeited their deposits, namely: Labour 34 Liberals 31 Conservatives .. .. .. .. 17 Communists 21 Others 12 The Labour candidate at Abingdon, Berkshire, to save his deposit, had to poll 3,7128 votes. The lack of threequarters of a vote cost him £l5O. Mr. Thomas Gee, “workers’ candidate” at Wednesbury, polled only 61 votes —the smallest total in any coni stituency. Eighty per cent, of the electors ! voted It is estimated that the cost of ! the election to all parties was I £2,200,000. | it is stated that the Liberal Party j spent £BOO,OOO.

EAGER SPECULATION WHAT WILL LIBERALS DO? BRITISH PRESS OPINIONS (Australian end X.Z. Press Association) LONDON, Sunday. The public and the Press are eagerly discussing how the election verdict will find expression in the House of Commons. The new Parliament is not due to meet until June 25. Events, therefore, may not .be hurried, especially in view of the King’s renewed iliness. It may be regarded as certain that all the parties will unite, in case of necessity, in adopting the course most likely to spare his Majesty anxiety or trouble. The Crown never stood higher in the affections of the masses of the people than today. This does not imply that Labour is likely to be slow in claiming office. Mr. Baldwin is now at Chequers having a much-needed rest. He will confer with his colleagues early in the week. The Prime Minister’s alternatives are to resigu immediately or to meet Parliament and leave the fate of the Government in the hands of the House—in other words, in the hands of the Liberals.

The chief argument against the former course is that, though the Government suffered defeat at the noils, there is yet a definite antiLabour majority in the House of Commons. Therefore Mr. Baldwin is being urged to carry oil. In that event he must patch up his Ministry,

hich has suffered the loss of seven members, notably Sir Arthur SteelMaitland and Sir Thomas Inskip and Mr. A. Duff Cooper, Parliamentary Secretary for War. It is regarded as certain that when Parliament meets the Labour leader will propose a motion of no-confidence as an amendment to the Address-in-Reply. If the Liberals abstained from voting Labour could defeat the Government. On the other hand, if the Liberals support Labour Mr. MacDonald could no doubt carry on. At all events another general election within a few weeks is unthinkable, and, as the “Daily Telegram observes, in all probability it would settle nothing. The “Daily Telegraph” (Conservative) says: “No constitutional crisis should be allowed to arise while the King is suffering from indisposition, but nothing in the nature of a crisis has yet arisen. “Mr, Baldwin’s Government is still in being. Even if he had considered the possibility of resigning before the meeting of Parliament, arguments for such an action would hardly bear examination. “We shall hope to see Mr. Baldwin boldly reconstruct his Administration and meet the new House of Commons. not weakly extending his.neck to the sword of the executioner, but with a programme of useful, non-con-troversial legislation, prepared to carry on the King’s Government, and throwing upon the two Oppositions the responsibility for putting the Ministry out. The verdict of the country is one that every loyal Conservative must deplore.” “MORE HONEST POLITICS” The “Daily News” says: “The new Parliament will be very different from, the old, and in almost every respect far better. “We differ in certain respects from the Labour policy just as we reject some nostreums of Conservatism, but broadly the result of the election wiil make for healthier and more honest politics. “It will end the sordid intrigues to impose protection under an alias, and will mean the adoption of a more energetic peace policy. It will make impossible the cruel, indolent apathy with which the misery of the unemployed has been for years regarded by the Government. The new Parliament may not be perfect, but it will be a truer reflection of the country’s real opinion than was the old one.” “BALDWIN MUST RESIGN” Special interest is attached to the opinion of the “Daily Herald,” the Labour organ, which says, in its leading article: “Before the swift tide of democratic indignation the mighty Tory majority which resulted from the Red letter lie of 1921 lias been smashed to atoms, and Liberalism definitely rejected. As for the Communists, the workers have meted out the spittle of contempt upon them. We hope the Third (Communist) International is satisfied at their tale of forfeited deposits. “Mr. Baldwin’s duty is plain. He must resign, and allow the country’s chosen leader to take up the work of 1924. Doubtless behind the scenes the old parties will scon be up to their necks in squalid bargainings. We do not resent this, because we have always contended that it was a fight of Labour against the rest. The logic of events must eventually drive the real Tories and Liberals into the same camp.” “As far as Labour is concerned, it will go steadily on in the sure knowledge that' at no distant date the banners of Socialism will be carried to that final victory of which the present triumph is only an interlude.

AS OTHERS SEE IT

FOREIGN PRESS VIEWS OF ELECTION VARYING OPINIONS LONDON. Saturday. The Rome journal “II Tevere” welcomes the result of the election. It says a British Labour Government cannot continue the collaboration between France and Britain, which is tending to consolidate into a European hegemony. The effects of the new international political situation will be felt at Geneva, in the Balkans and especially at Paris. The Russian Press interprets the British election as a complete condemnation of the Conservative policy. The “Izvestia” prophecies a reversion of Britain's foreign policy. The “Ekoncmicheskaia Jizn,” another Moscow daily journal, says the electors, by voting against the policy indirectly endorsed the Soviet’s struggle for peace and disarmament. The consensus of opinion in Canada

is that millions of pounds of British capital will be turned into Canada if Labour succeeds in controlling the reins of the British Government. Canadian politicians say they believe the British Labour Party’s solution of the unemployment problem will take the form of encouraging the establishment of branch factories in Cauada, so that unemployed British artisans may be readily assimilated. AMERICAN COMMENT A message from New York says the “New York Times” in a leader says: Not even the Labour Party can call the results of the British General Elect ion fortunate. It is a comforting reflection, amid the depressing thoughts caused by its inconclusiveness. that if a Labour Government is formed it will cause no trepidation in England and no fear elsewhere. Mr. MacDouald. whatever lie may be in theory, is in practice not. at all a flaming extremist.” The “New York World” says: * Tlio heavy Labour vote cannot bo interpreted except as evidence that in the oldest of modern democracies more advanced ideas of social progress have steadily been gaining ground.” Officials in Washington are unwilling to make a statement publicly concerning the British elections this evening. but Mr. W. E. Borah, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate, said he believed the return to power of Mr. MacDonald would do much to further the process of naval reduction, and many other persons intimate that their opinions are similar. The prediction is made by members of the United States Congress that the Labour victory in the British elections, if sufficiently complete, will bring about an early recognition of Russia by Britain and later by the United States.

UNDER SCOTSMEN'S RULE PRIMATE’S VIEW OF LABOUR SUCCESS Reed. 11 a.m. LONDON, Sunday. Commenting on the elections, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang, said: *T will only permit myself to say that if Mr. Ramsay MacDonald forms a Government, the English State and the English Church will agaili pass under the rule of Scotsmen.” A uniquely historic figure is Dr. Marion Phillips, the lirst Australianborn woman to enter the House of Commons. She attributed a large part of the Labour success to womanhood suffrage. Her mother was born in Wellington, New Zealand, and taken to Australia wheu she was a year old. Dr. Phillips was born in Melbourne and educated at Melbourne and London Universities. She is a doctor of science in economics of London University. She was a member of the Royal Commission on the Poor Law, 1907-8. She was formerly general secretary of the Women's Labour League and on the Kensington Borough Council. She has written on social and political matters. Her books include “A Colonial Autocracy” (1907), “A Working Woman’s House.” She. edits the “Labour Woman/*

POLITICAL FAMILIES LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON AND A DAUGHTER TOO j Politics appears to run in some Engi lish families like red hair or a snub nose. There is some interesting proof of this in the British election results. Each leader of the three great parties has a family representative with him iu the House of Commons, but not necessarily a political ally in all cases. For example, Mr. Stanley Baldwin’s son Oliver has been returned for a Labour constituency, and the youthful politician’s first duty as a loyal party supporter will be to attempt an early dismissal of his father from the supreme place in British politics. In the simple home of the MacDonalds a double triumph is enjoyed. The father of the house, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald. may be Prime Minister, and his son Malcolm is on the Labour side with a thumping personal majority to bis credit. Mr. Lloyd George has not realised liis flambuoyant anticipations, but there are now enough representatives in the House of Commons to form a “cave.” His daughter Megan and his son Major Gwwilyn Lloyd George have been elected as supporters of their distinguished or politically extinguished father. Among them they will at least collect £1,209 a year as members of Parliament. I The Rt. Hon. Arthur Henderson is : accompanied in the House by his two ! sons—all for Labour. The halfbrothers, Sir Austen and Neville | Chamberlain, have been returned, but i with sadly depleted majorities. : COMMENT IN GERMANY EFFECT ON BRITISH FOREIGN POLICY ■ (Australian and .V.Z. Fries Association} (United Service) ' Reed. ii.s a.m. LONDON, Sunday. The newspaper “Vossische Zeitung” i declares that in place of Sir Austen Chamberlain will come men not following a policy of alliances of military power, but striving for security and the alleviation of the taxpayers' lot by facilitating economy and co-opera-I tion.” | The “Deutsche Zeitung” describes i the election as a bluff. Germany must not expect a drastic change in j the foreign policy. The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” states that, although some of : the German newspapers publish photo- ! graphs of Mr. MacDonald as England’s i “new master,” hasty conclusions are I avoided. j The foremost hope in Germany was that the elections would nullify Sir Austen Chamberlain's control of Bri- ; tain's foreign policy, in which conli- ; dence has evaporated. However, the Conservatives’ dependence on Liberal t support WQpld, it is felt, correct an | undue leaning to the Entente. Germany does not expect much even j from a Labour Government, and does j not anticipate that it will precipitate progress in the direction of the evacuation of the Rhineland. The papers remark that, considering the decision lies with the French, no British Government is likely to alter the foreign i policy in a situation so closely api preaching a deadlock tUS at present is j indicated. * i