The Daily News. MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1918. THE BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1918. THE BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Never has there been a time when a general election of members of Parliament has taken place under such circumstances as the present. For over four years past the war has overshadowed all national affairs. It had to be won, and to that end were the supreme efforts 1 of all classes directed, with the result that a complete and decisive victory was achieved. Knowing the colossal nature of the strain involved in the conduct of the war, it is marvellous that time, thought and energy were found to attend to other matters, which were deemed to be urgent. Yet so it was, and the legislative enactments during the war period bear eloquent testimony to the amazing activity of the British Government and of Parliament. Among the most, important measures passed was a Reform Bill, which opens up a new era of power for the people. The electorate of the nation has been doubled, the latest measure having placed eight million new names on the roll, though it falls short of universal fran-, chise. All British males of twentyone and over haVe a vote after residence in Britain for six months, but in the case of women the qualifying age is thirty, providing they occupy a home or possess landed property of the annual value of £5, of which they or their husbands are tenants. It is under this new franchise that the elections are being held, women, for the first time in British history, being not only eligible to vote, but to sit in Parliament. Keen interest is taken in the event throughout, the Empire, and the result of the elections will be eagerly awaited, for the future of the Motherland irf now in the melting pot. According to recent cables, there are 471 Coalition candidates, comprising 322 Unionists and 131 Liberals and 18 National Democrats; 1047 non-Coalition candidates, comprising 75 Unionists, 253 Liberals, 376 Luborites, 12 Socialists, 7 Agriculturalists, 23 Federation of Discharged Soldiers, 120 Independents and unclassifieds, besides the various Irish candidates. Prom this array of candidates 670 members have to be elected, and a feature of the occasion is the very large number of men in khaki seeking a seat in the House. That the war, and work work, will have an influence in the result is. very probable, but it is stated there is a general feeling that Mr. Lloyd George (who is unopposed) will have an immense majority of combined Unionists and Liberals, the principal minority being composed of Laborites, who may be expected to outnumber the Liberals supporting Mr. Asquith. The Coalition party has put forward as its prominent election points the punishment of the Kaiser, making Germany pay, repatriating the soldiers as soon as possible, fair treatment' for returned soldiers and sailors, and better housing and social conditions for the masses. Mr. Lloyd George is the pivot on which the situation turns. He has proved himself as the man of the hour in the greatest crisis of British history, and has gathered around him the best elements of British public life. He faces the country with the glamor of success illuminating his great work towards winning the war. Moreover, he has worked his way to Premiership by sheer force of character and sterling merit, and has converted his fiery partisanship into a statesmanship which is honored by all the civilised nations. At heart he is a progressive democrat, and a true friend of sane Labor; his ideals have become intensely imperial, and his outlook immensely broadened, his sympathy with the people deepened and strengthened. His claim for support cannot fail to be furthered by his determination to exact from Germany the utmost farthing that can be obtained by way of indemnity for loss and damage resulting from the war. Moreover, the splendid services rendered by him in the past are such as to be a convincing guarantee that in the j work of after-war reconstruction' he will be found the ideal head of the Government that has to face and solve the many problems which must inevitably demand attention. It is only reasonable to anticipate that the neAV House of Commons will differ materially from any of its predecessors, and it is impossible to forecast what alterations may take place in the party system. It is extremely improbable that the coalition will endure for any length of time, especially in view of the settlement of Britain's fiscal.policy as regards jthe Empire, the Allies, neutrals and enemy nations, and the Irish question may also be a factor of disruption, but there is no man in j the foremost, rank of public life in the Old Country who is so fitted as Mr. Lloyd George to take the leading part in the new era of Britain's political, socia} and industrial life. His genius alone could combine the preponderating sections of loyal Liberal and Labor i thought, give to them a wide in--1 lernational. rat&er than, an impe-

rial basis, clothe them with a broad humanity, and save the country—for some years, at least —from the fatal party division of Socialists—and others. The new sympathy between all classes resulting from comradeship in arms and equality of sacrifices is surely bound to have a considerable ef-1 feet on British national life, emphasised by the new conditions applying to women as having earned the .right to the nation's honor and esteem, while the new standard of thought of the millions of men and women who have served their country is bound to have a marked effect in stimulating an intelligence in national affairs. It is as if the old Britain had passed through the furnace, emerged free from dross, and ready to take on a new lustre that will signify her elevation to a higher plane. Conditions there can never return to what they were before the war, and that is a very potent reason why the electors should take care to select as their representatives in Parliament only such sound and tried men as may be relied upon to support Mr. Lloyd George and the brilliant colleagues who have during the war period proved their worth and patriotism beyond all doubt. The elections mark a parting of the ways in many respects, and from them it will be possible to draw a conclusion as to whether or not the people have risen to the occasion and become imbued with a right sense of their new responsibilities.