NEW PREMIER.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1922, Page 5

NEW PREMIER.

OUTLINE OF POLICY.

EMPIRE TRADE PLANS. "faith in the league. By Telegraph.—Pres* Assn.-Copyright. London, Oct. 27. ‘Air. Bonar Law received an ovation from 5000 of his. constituents at St. Andrew’s Hall, Glasgow. The Prime Minister said that when he returned from his recuperative holiday in France he became convinced that the Coalition was steadily losing ground and must be ended. The trouble was not due to intrigues and did not arise in the House of Commons, but in the constituencies. He had acted at the Carlton Club as he did in the belief that it would be calamitous to allow steady Conservative opinion to go unrepresented owing to a party split. If the only issue at the election had been a choice between the Labor and the anti-Labor parties, he believed it would have •trengtheaed Labor. REPARATIONS PROBLEM. The greatest foreign problem ahead was the reparations. He did not consider it entirely hopeless of solution. He did not agree with the view that Germany could not pay anything. Britain entirely agreed with France on that. The only point of difference was the method of obtaining payment. Britain and France, in the interests of Europe, must remain together. Europe must found her hopes on the League of Nations. His object would be to make the League more effective He trusted the United States would soon become associated with the League and thus increase its value.

Mr. Bonar Law said Britain did not want to make the Straits of Gallipoli a second Gibraltar. He hoped the treaty with Turkey would enable our troops to return home.

The new Cabinet would show patience with Ireland if it waa satisfied the Pro visional Government was endeavoring to carry out the treaty. The only real cure for unemployment was the restoration of trade. He emphasised that the country needed as little legislation as possible. He said he proposed to abolish the Ministry of Pensions. EMPIRE QUESTIONS. Regarding the proposed Imperial Economic Conference he could imagine nothing better than the settlement of suitable unemployed men overseas. The best chance of improving our trade was by developing the resources of the Empire. We had lost many of the good markets of Europe, especially the food from Russia, which was now coming largely from the Empire. The war, which had impoverished Europe, had en rithed many of our fellow subjects overseas. We must utilise that to the utmost.

"I am not thinking of fiscal measures or anything of that kind but the development of the Empire by means of more buying power. By a carefully thought out plan in co-operation with the Dominions, better trade results might be secured. The self-governing Dominions are becoming nations. They are large and generous. By co-operation I do not mean spending British money but going into the whole question with the earnest desire to find if, by co-oper-ation, We cannot do something to increase trade within the Empire.” REMOVING MISUNDERSTANDINGS. FRANCE’S HIGH HOPES. Paris, Oct. 27. The French Press is showing unprecedented interest in the British elections, and unanimously welcomes Mr. Bonar Law’s policy statement, and expresses the belief that this gives high hope of overcoming the Anglo-French misunderstanding.

The Gaulois says that, if Mr. Bonar Law succeeds, England will again adopt her traditional attitude of sincerity and prudence with no further adventures, sudden changes, warlike speeches or threatening gestures.

A DIFFICULT TIME. ATTITUDE OF MR. CHURCHILL. SUPPORTING LLOYD GEORGE. Received Oct. 29, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 28. Mr. Winston Churchill, in a message to the Dundee Liberal Association, says: “When I think of the gravity of the hour and its measureless uncertainties, I marvel at the temerity and presumption which squandered so many friendly forces and stripped the State erf so much serviceable experience. The authority of the House of Commons has to no small extent been alighted in the composition of the new Government. It would be dangerous if Lord Curzon or Lord Salisbury tried to execute schemes for creating a brand new House of Lords, filled with superior persons, in order to re-establish the veto over the House of Commons. “My attitude towards the Government must be one of freedom and reserve. That does not mean I shall confront it with factious opposition. The new Premier has declared a policy which ia virtually identical with that which we pursued in every sphere, and if Ministers avoid reactionary courses they should be accorded all reasonable facilities. The situation does not demand a centre party. I ask you to adopt me simply as a Liberal and a Free Trader, supporting Mr. Lloyd George. I wish to conduct my candidature so as to make my Unionist friends feel that in supporting two Liberal candidates they are safeguarding the essential principles whereon the stability of British society depends. “We cannot afford to be divided on minor issues when the accumulated greatness of Britain is challenged by a predatory and confiscatory Socialist a programme. It is suggested I have special responsibility in regard to the commitments in Mesopotamia and Palestine, and that the leaders of the new Government are free of such responsibility. Such a suggestion is exactly contrary to the truth. Mr. Bonar Law and Ixrrd Curzon were both members of the War Cabinet when the commitments were undertaken. I came into the Middle Eastern business effectively only * the beginning of 1921. and I in reducing expenditure from £4a,wu.000 to £11.000.000. and h »d made p'ans to reduce it to lea. than «,000,000 next ye „»-Au*.-N.Z. Cable Amu.