Liberals Overwhelmed

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1037, 30 July 1930, Page 9

Liberals Overwhelmed

PARTY DEBACLE IN CANADA

Big Conservative Majority

DOMINION MAY LOSE TRADE BENEFIT

Liberal Government was overwhelmed at the V* General Elections on Monday, when the Conservative Party swept the polls and secured a working majority in the Federal House of Commons.

The Prime Minister-elect, Mr, B. B. Bennett, is expected to call a special session to deal with unemployment. New Zealand may suffer under the trade treaties which are likely to develop from the change in administration.

United P.A,—By Telegraph—Copyright Peed. 10.10 a.m. OTTAWA, Tuesday. The Liberal Government, headed by Mr. W. L. Mackenzie King, was defeated at the General Election in Canada yesterday by the Conservatives led by Mr. R. B. Bennett. It is expected that Mr. Bennett will be installed as Prime Minister within a week. The rival leaders were both reelected. The returns from 23S of the 215 constituencies were completed at 3.30 a.m. today when the slate of parties was as follows: Conservatives 136 Liberals 83 Others 19 These figures give the Conservatives u majority of 34 over all the other parties, and of 53 over the Liberals, with only seven returns to come. The election was full of surprises anil iu many ways recalled that of 1911, when the Liberals were defeated on the Fielding Budget of reciprocity with the United States by the deflection of the Quebec Liberal block. The Government went to the country on Monday largely on the Dunning Budget of increased British prefer- 1 ence, and Quebec returned 24 Conservatives, New Zealand butter and a restricted American market being the prime factors in the dairying country. UNEMPLOYMENT SESSION Mr. Bennett, with a following of 136, has a clear working majority without the help of the depleted Independent groups. This the first time since the war that the Government has been in this position. Mr. Bennett has pledged himself to call a special session of Parliament to deal with unemployment, hut the question of Canadian representatiofl at the Imperial and Economic Con ference must be speedily decided. The task of CaDinet-making is ’mplified by the election of a dozen conservatives ex-Cabinet Ministers. Conservative gains are notable all over the country, perhaps especially in Manitoba, where they won 12 seats, compared with none at the last elec tion. Miss Agnes Macphail, United Farmer Party candidate for Grey, in Southwest Ontario, was the only woman elected. It was upon the so-called Dunning Budget, which featured British preference. that Mr. King appealed to the country, but other issues very noticeably entered into the contest. For example, unemployment, which was directly responsible for Mr. Dunning’s defeat. LIBERALS ROUTED Then, for the first timo since the days of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Cou-

servatives broke the Liberals’ hold upon the French Roman Catholic province of Quebec. For many years the people of Quebec have never for given Canada’s Conservative Unionist Government at the time of the war foi enforcing conscription in that pro vince’. and the Conservatives’ capture of 21 seats out of 65 there has caused tremendous surprise. In Protestant Ontario the Conservatives won 60 out of 82 seats. Extensive gains were made by the Conservatives in Quebec and Manitoba, and they increased their strength in all the provinces except British Columbia, where the Liberals gained four seats in the Vancouver district. 1 The Conservatives broke into the Liberal province of Quebec, where they secured 21 seats out of 65 which formerly had been a' solid bloc for the Liberals. Mr. Beunett claims that this victory gave him a majority iu the House of Commons, and said he would be, ready to form a Government next week when called upon by the GovernorGeneral. I’he Ministers who suffered defeat include Mr. C. A. Dunning (Finance). Mr. B. Cannon (Solicitor-General). Mr T. A. Crerar (Railways), Mr. W. F Kay (Minister without portfolio), ami Dr. Cyrus Macmillan (Fisheries and Marine). TREATY IN JEOPARDY WHERE NEW ZEALAND STANDS BUTTER TRADE MAY SUFFER Reed. 10.15 a.m. VANCOUVER, Tugs. The defeat of the Government leaves the Australian treaty and the renewal of the New Zealand treaty ir jeopardy. Mr. Bennett, in his campaign, declared he would. If elected, abrogate all treaties “working to the disadvantage of Canrda.” The latter specifically mentioned the Australian and New Zealand treaties and he opposes particularly the importation of New Zealand butter. This opposition undoubtedly won him many seats In Canadian agricultural districts. The new Prime Minister is J ■to adopt a policy of protective tariffs. The “Daily Province” says the chief influence in tho defeat of the Government was the havoc wrought in rural Quebec, Ontario and elsewhere by the argument that, the dairy industry Is prejudiced and depressed by importations of New Zealand butter.