"WHAT A LACING!"

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 282, 28 November 1931, Page 10

"WHAT A LACING!"

BRITISH ELECTION RESULT.

AMERICANS' COMMENT

"IT PAYS TO TELL THE TRUTH."

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SAN FRANCISCO, November 5

New York's reaction to the British election results was mainly utter amazement at the crushing defeat administered to the Labour party. The man in the street was frankly 1 bewildered by the extent of the Labour catastrophe, and could not comprehend the" reason for it. Comment in general was summed up in three words.: "What a lacing!"

Especial interest was attached to the probable future of Prime Minister Ramsay MacDohald, owing to his personal popularity resulting from his visit to Xew York. There seemed to be some doubt whether he could head a Government controlled by a clear Conservative party majority.

From a financial standpoint tiie election lad comparatively little effect in New York, the result having been alrcadv discounted.

Tlie New York' "Times", had little sympathy for the Labour party, saving: "It was charged with an abject failure in office. The large and lavish promises which it made two years ago remain as little more than so much blank paper.

. . . On top of all there was. a deep, feeling of disappointment, or outright resentment, when the Labour Government confessed itself six weeks ago unable to deal with the crisis, which its own measures had at least partially created, and ran awav. . As the English say, it 'funked' when the issue was sharply thrust upon a Labour Cabinet, which first disagreed and then resigned."'

The New York "Evening Post" was still more blunt.:, "The world should hold its head higher to-day because of the

British' general election. been thrown from power by the mined vote of a great people. The- < ov eminent has been given back to •<"! servatism, retrenchment and coinin u

sense." - " J. The New York "Sun" declared that "Great Britain lias undergone ; not /■ election but a political revolution, . remarked: "The voters . • • have deme" strated, in a fashion which the v timorous and least imaginative P° cians can understand,, that in crisis it pays to tell the truth to, { , people." '' The "World-Telegram" was,dg»g> impartial, except as regards tan . ' ters, saying: "Whatever cfec ; it, j accomplished, the British election w clarified the issue. Politically, J e ./.j;. in Great Britain is whether a or a Capitalist Government i' . trusted with the grave r«pon»» ' trying to pull the country out :0? . mire. The Capitalist coalition . Jus't what the Conservatives V with their power is not so cea ■ parentlv they are determined o , England with a rich, protectee