ELECTION PROSPECTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 247, 18 October 1922, Page 5

ELECTION PROSPECTS.

EVENTS MOVE RAPIDLY. COALITION DISINTEGRATING. BONAR LAWS OPPOSITION. PREMIER MAY RESIGN. REINS TO CONSERVATIVES. (B.t Cal)ic.-X'ress Association.—Copvrijht.i ißpcplrcd 9.00 a.m. 1 LOXDOX, Oiober 17 Tlie newspaper* arc full of speculations regarding the political situation. Despite Mr. Lloyd Wcorge's indefinite announcement at Manchester, event-* tnored rapidly i!nring the week-end towards a ijiiirk ending of suspense. Mr. Churchill pave a dinner party on Sunday, which was attended by Mr. Lloyd George. tic Liberal members of Cnbinet. nnrl Mr. Austen Cltnmberlaiii, Lord Balfour, and Lord Birkcnhead, who are definitely in favour of the continuation of The Coalition. II is reported that at the dinner attempt" were made to induce Mr. Chamberlain to agree to rush the election as a Coalition without any preliminary Unionist party meeting. It is understood that. Mr. Chamberlain deliined. heme the Mlmmoning of Unionist members of the House of Commons to the Carlton Club gathering on Thursday,' which political writer? I'sree will, be the deciding factor. At the meeting Mr. Chamberlain is expected to recommend that the Conservative and Liberal wing? shall go to the country as separate entities, but hold themselves ready to co-operate in Parliament after the election. The "'dieharde.' , however, will press the meeting to decide that the ! Conservatives should no longer uphold the Coalition. A decision will be reache:! in the shape of a vote of confidence in Mr. Chamberlain, which the latter's friends believe will be carried.

At preliminary meetings of Unionist members and undersecretaries to-day. k large majority supported Mr. Chamberlain. On the other hand, the "diehards" claim that they have the support of many back benchers. If the Carlt.on Club meeting votes against continuance of the coalition. Mr. Chamberlain and most of his colleagues will resign from the Government.

A powerful factor in the background Is believed to be Mr. Bonar Law's opposition to the continuance of the coalition with Lloyd George. If the Inionist party renounces continuation •if the coalition. Mr. Lloyd George is expected to hand over control to a purely Conservative ministry, which will immediately face the electors.

The leaders of all parties have made many speaking engagements for the next fortnight.

Mr. W. A. g. Hewine. ex-Under-Seere-tary for the Colonies has given notice to move at the National Unionist Conference in Xovember that the coalition cease and the Conservative leaders appeal to the country for a majority to enable the new Government to carry out the following policy: First, maintenance of Entente with Franc?; second. Adoption of a trade policy conforming with the resolutions of the Imperial Conference of 1917 and 1918, with a view to restoring trade and reducing unemployment.

Labour is planning to contest 420 seats. It cannot afford to waste money on hopolees Cpnservative strongholds. A party official to-night paid that Labour is expected to win 150 to 160 seats and to be strong enough to make it difficult for any Government to play fast ana loose with problems. The" party did not intend -to declare its policy prior to the announcement of the dissolution, iming to the fear of having their thunder stolen.

INDIAN CONDEMNATION.

FLAMING FEROCITY." (R«i-eiTed 2.3u p.nu DELHI, October 17. Mr. LJoyd George's Manchester speech Is practically condemned throughout India by the English moderate and extremist Press alike. Leading articles abound with phrases like, "Limehouse." "Alienating Mohammedans," "Ignorant fanaticism," "Cheap sneers," "Violent distortion of facts" and '"Flaming Feroi--ity." Accusation is made that Mr. Lloyd George has ignored the interests of millions of British Moslems in the question at issue.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

LABOITR AND THE POSITION.

AN ELECTION WELCOMED.

LONDON, October 17. The National Council of the Independent Labour party passed a resolution welcoming the prospect of an immediate general election, describing Mr. Lloyd George's speech nt Manchester as ' a puerile attempt to justify the Coalition's ruinous Home and foreign policies, to •which it attributes the present serious depression and ruin in Europe, declaring Mr. Lloyd George's defence of the Coalition's mishandling of the Near East as a travesty of the facts, and calling on the people not to trust any leader of the °'a diplomacy, l.ut. to return a Labour majority pledged to reconstruct conditions at Home and abroad on lines of co-operation for the benefit of all. O.nly |»y such new polkies and outlook, declares the resolution, nan the world Ive saved from further disaster.—(A. and N.Z.)