BRITISH LIBERALS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 204, 14 June 1929, Page 6

BRITISH LIBERALS.

ATTITUDE TO GOVERNMENT. (Special to the “Guardian.”) AUCKLAND, June 13. The Rev. J. Hall, M.A., who is revisiting Auckland after sixteen years, and who in recent years as an educationalist and social worker had been in touch with the miners of South Wales, says that the return to office of the Labour Government in Britain will put a feeling of hope into the minds of the working classes. He believes that the workers themselves will willingly undertake things to help themselves that they did not undertake in the past few.years when they felt that the breaking up of all possibility of a national agreement and the enactment of the Eight Hours Bill was inimical to their best interests.

Mr Hall says that while Mr Ramsay MacDonald was in office a few years ago he was not actually in power, but there under the permission of Lord Oxford. This does not apply to Lloyd George as the present leader of the Liberals, because politically he is distrusted, whereas Mr Asquith was trusted. Mr Lloyd George has a tremendous following of devoted folk, but is hated by innumerable others and the Liberal Party is split under his leadership.' Something iike a quarter of the present membership of the Liberal Party might follow Mr Walter Runciman, who has Said that he will not follow Mr Lloyd George. It may be for a somewhat similar reason that Sir W. H. Jowitt has consentel to become Attorney-General in the Labour Government. “Do you think the Liberals as a party will support Labour?” Mr Hall was asked.

“I can’t say that,” he replied, “but this I can say: There are only two division lobbies. Every Liberal must make a choice on each division and in practical working therefore it is probable that a majority of the Liberals will in every case go into the Lobby with Labour.

“‘Maggie’ Bondfield is a remarkably charming personality and is trusted. I’ve heard her in the House of Commons and know the respect in which she is held. Miss Bondfield will he in no sense a revolutionary. She has a very keen eye for a thing that is immediately practicable and is not afraid to incur criticism on the ground that she is subordinating ideals' to the demands of immediate realities. I don’t consider that her appointment as Minister was mainly a tribute to the womanhood of the nation. She is worth her place and I believe is one of the ablest members of the Government.”