FULLY SOCIALIST

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 16, 31 October 1935, Page 5

FULLY SOCIALIST

BRITISH LABOUR PROGRAMME.

MR MACDONALD’S POSITION.

“A POLITICAL NUDIST.”

(United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 2.5 p.m.) LONDON, October 30.

Labour is fighting the election on a full Socialist programme, said 1 the act-ing-leader (Major C. It. Attlee), at {Southampton, answering Viscount Snowden, who said Socialism was not the issue. He said that Lord Snowden had been long out of politics while Mr MacDonald had shed every rag of conviction, arid might be described as a political nudist. Labour was prepared to provide the forces necessary for the maintenance of collective security. This did not mean that the Government would have a free hand; in armaments. Labour wanted 1 to see international problems settled on constructive lines and finance and currency brought under public control.

Prominent members of all political parties made electioneering speeches yesterday; Mr G. R. Attlee, leader of the Labour party, delivered the first of the party’s election broadcasts, in which he‘ said that the two real issues of the election were:—.

(1) How could security from the menace of war be given?

(2) How could they ensure to all citizens security for their means of livelihood ?

Proceeding he said: “We believe that another world war will mean the end of civilisation. Modern weapons are so dangerous that they, cannot be left in the hands of national governments. We believe that the world must disarm and join in the system of collective security.” The danger of war, he said, sparing largely from the breakdown of the economic system, and there must be economic co-operation if the peoples of the world Were to benefit by the discoveries of science. If people were to be made secure, the collective system must be made effective and must be used only as establishing conditions for the building up of ,a new world. Criticising the Government’s demand for more armaments, he said that Labour’s position was quite clear. While working for all-round disarmament, it was ready to maintain efficient forces which were needed for the country to take its proper share in the system of collective security. He protested that the Government had never given an estimate of what was required in rearmament. All its proposals were based on obsolete ideas of national defence. Turning to domestic affairs, Mr Attlee demanded that institutions must be adapted to the new world in which all were living. The machinery of commerce and industry was so complicated that it could not be left to private indnstry, and a mere scramble for profits. The banks should bo owned: by tho State,: and the machinery of credit and finance operated in the interests of the nation. To reorganise industries ana agriculture, and to provide the social amenities required, the land must be brought into national ownership. Ihe problem of the distressed areas and depressed industries should he dealt with as part of a national plan. The aged and children should be removed from industry, and a reduction m the hours of labour effected. Bir John Simon (leader of the Na-tional-Liberal party) assailed the Labom- party's proposals to take over the banks and businesses. He said that another first-class financial crisis, such as occurred in 1931, would bring w. its wake a trail of ruin. The same causes would he hound to produce the same results. . „ T , He recalled the services of Loici Snowden ill 1931, when he helped to revise the spendthrift policy for which he had previously been partly responsible. Sir John added: “Under the present Exchequer, the national fin ances have been , completely reestablished. AH debits have been restored taxation has been reduced, and Bntish crdit is now the best in the woild. - British Official Wireless.

TIPS FOR THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE.

TRAINER TELLS AUDIENCES

(Received This Day, L3O P- m -) 1 LONDON, October 30. Basil Briscoe, trainer of Commander 111. (winner of the Cambndges «© Stakes) is taking part in the Cam bridgeshire election because his biot > , Captain R. G. Briscoe, a member of the 1 House of Commons, is at piesen returning from New Zealand. _ Basil Briscoe has been speaking an average of five meetings nightlyHe always told his audience to back Commander 111. and vote for Ins brother.

WORLD INFLUENCE ENHANCED.

(Received This Daw LSP; m -) LONDOIT,’ October 30. ' Sir John Simon in a broadcast said that the Government bad every right to be called National, notwithstanding that Lord Snowden had withdrawn from it. The fact that the Government was National liad immensely influenced Britain’s authority at Geneva and throughout the world.

500,000 MORE VOTERS ON ROLLS.

LONDON, October 29.

It is estimated that there will bo more than 500,000 more voters on the rolls for the coming election than at the general election of 1931. The total .(electorate numbers 27,407,000. British Official Wireless.