LABOUR REGIME

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 201, 11 June 1929, Page 5

LABOUR REGIME

PREPARING TO MEET HOUSE

THE STATE OF PARTIES.

LABOUR, MAJORITY TWENTY-NINE

Press Association— Copyright.) {Received This Pay, 12.45 p.m ) LONDON, June 10. The two Parliamentary seats for the combined Scottish Universities of St. Andrews. Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh were filled to-day by the election of Sir John Buchan, Sir George Berry (Conservatives) and Mr D. a • Cowan (Liberal). There is no change. Tie House-of Commons is now complete, except for Rugby, for wLIc P polling takes place on Thursday owing to tho death of the Labour candidate after the nominations had closed. The parties now stand:

Jj abour '~ - Conservatives Liberals Independents y The aggregate of ,yotes was: Labour Conservative liberals b,247, 378 Communist 50,614 Women candidates of all parties polled 748,501 votes.

PRIVATE SECRETARYSHIP.

A VARIED CAREER. (Received This Day, 8.55 a.m.) LONDON, June 10. Mr Macneil Weir, M.P. for the Clackmannan and Eastern [Division of Stirling, has been appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Mr MacDonald. Mr Weir has had a varied career as a actor, sailor, 1 teacher and lecturer m political economy. —Australian Press Association, United Service.

PREMIER’S BRIEF RESPITE.

VISIT TO HIS NATIVE TOWN. (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, June 10. There are still 30 appointments to be made to minor positions in the Government, and it is expected that these will he announced to-night. When this task is Air MacDonald will be free to leave London for a few days’ holiday at his native town, Lossiemouth, in Scotland. Arrangements are being made for extending a cordial reception to the Prime Minister on his arrival there to-mor-tow. —British Official Wireless.

CABINET HOLDS FIRST MEETING.

(Received This Day/10.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 10.

The first meeting of Cabinet was held this morning, and lasted half an hour. A “talkie” film was made of Mr MacDonald introducing Mr Sidney "Webb (Secretary of State for the Dominions), saying : “He '-is still Mr "Webb.” —Australian Press Association.

FOREIGN POLICY.

“BIG STEP TOWARD PEACE.” LONDON, June 10. The “Daily Herald,” in a leader dealing with Mr Henderson’s foreign policy, says: “Labour intends to lay new emphasis on the importance of the League of Nations, the development of arbitration, the resumption of relations with Russia, the evacuation of the Rhineland, and the improvement and strengthening of relations with the United States, constituting a programme the fulfilment of which will mark a gigantic step toward peace.. It is a good omen, too, that Mr MacDonald and Mr Henderson are expecting an opportunity for personal contact and consultation with the American Government.” —United Service.

THE COUNTRY’S CONFIDENCE.

PREMIER EXPRESSES THANKS

LONDON, June 9

Mr MacDonald, the, new Prime Minister, issued the following statement from the London station of the British Broadcasting Corporation, 2LO, yesterday evening: “My colleagues and I have just returned from Windsor, where we received the seals of office from the King. The Government is now therefore properly constituted and I wish to take this early opportunity of thanking the country for the confidence it has placed in us. Mr Thomas/ has been placed at the head of the organisation, which will survey and tackle with energy the most practical means of dealing with unemployment, not only by relief works but also by plans directed by the idea of national reconstruction. Those working with him will be specially concerned njith this problem. I have been sceptical of reducing within a year the figures of unemployment to what has been called normality, but everything that can he done will be done, and that, as speedily as possible. “I cannot, of course, anticipate the terms of the King’s speech, which will he presented as soon as the new Parliament meets. While it will not be possible in the short time available before Parliament meets to study all the complexities of the laws, like the pensions law, it is our intention to deal promptly with certain simple difficulties like those of the provisions made for widows. A good deal of this kind of work we shall try to do whilst bigger things are developing. “We have com? back from the election campaign just a little tired in body, and yon will not grudge us a few days' rest before we meet the House of Commons. The departments will he working with vigour dur-

ing our absence, preparing material for us to labour on. I bone the nation will quietly and i buoyantly go on with its task of industrial recovery and expansion. We shall he inviting representatives of both sides, employers and employed, in the essential industries to confer with us in the special work for the good of our people. We shall avoid extravagance and we shall regard the work of reconstruction as capital for future development and better equipment.”—-British Official Wireless.