BRITISH ELECTION FIGHT CONTINUES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 261, 4 November 1935, Page 8

BRITISH ELECTION FIGHT CONTINUES.

RIVAL LEADERS. Chancellor and LI. George In Radio Speeches. OPPOSING- POLICIES. British Official Wireless. (Received I.SO p.m.) RUGBY, November 3. Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a broadcast election address, said that the Government was always working on new schemes to help industry, and he instanced the huge London transport scheme involving an expenditure of over £30,000,000, which would mean orders for rails, vehicles, locomotives, and electrical apparatus, giving much employment.

He compared the Labour election programme with that of the Government's and claimed the Government's plans for better housing, educational reform, improved maternity services and the raising of the standard of the health of the growing generation had been investigated and judged practicable and wise by men who, he asserted, in contrast with their opponents, did expect to be called on to fulfil their promises. Big Road Construction Plan. The Chancellor said that the Government was embarking on a five-year plan of road construction costing £100,000,000. This had become possible owing to the improvement in the national finances.

Mr. Chamberlain also stated, that the October unemployment figures to be published on Tuesday show a reduction of 40,000, compared with September. He believed the improvement would continue if the Government were allowed to carry on with its present policy.

The "Daily Telegraph" states that the Government proposes to guarantee a sum of £25,000,000 in loans to finance the principal railway companies in a programme of replacing rolling stock, modernising stations, other facilities and relaying tracks.

The programme of works will employ 4000 men for every £1,000,000 spent.

At the invitation of the Liberal leaders, Mr. Lloyd George on I'ridaynight occupied one of their three allotted broadcasts in the series arranged in connection with the general election, and dealt with his "New Deal" proposals, which were rejected some time ago by the Government and were afterwards endorsed by the "Council of Action for Peace and Reconstruction" set up under Mr. Lloyd George's leadership.

He said that since the war British people have spent £1,200,000,000 keeping people in idleness with maintenance and allowances which were less than sufficient to provide all required for full sustenance, but even in the lifetime of the present Government cost £460,000,000. For these gigantic sums there was nothing to show but the gradual demoralisation of those out of work. '*

Would it not have been infinitely wiser, he asked, to have expended all this money in subsidising useful work? It was a sinister reflection that throughout the last five years the average numbers of workless had been t'vice as large as during the preceding ten.

Mr. Lloyd George then described the scheme he advocated for the expenditure on housing, educational development, road improvements, land reclamation and other projects. The sums now spent on doles, if devoted to these useful tasks, would bring wages to hungry households and transform the country. International Affairs. Regarding international affairs, Mr. Lloyd George said that Ministers had gone into conferences with divided purpose and had been hopelessly outmatched by resolute and astute men. He urged the electors to vote for candidates of any party who subscribed to the programme of the Council of Action. The council has published the list of nearly 300 candidates whose replies to its questionnaire have! fully satisfied it. The largest number of favourable replies are from Liberal or Labour candidates, but the list includes several Conservative and Liberal National supporters of the Government. Speaking at Crewe,' Major Attlee, Labour leader, said the chief weapon in the .Conservative armoury was fear. In 1924 there was the Russian bogy, and in 1931 the danger to savings bogy. There were signs of fear to be used in the present election, too, to return the so-called National Government

AGAINST LABOUR. Backward Swing in British Elections. TORY AND LIBERAL GAINS. LONDON, November 3. Polling took place yesterday in more than 360 cities and towns in Britain for the election of one-third of the members of the municipal councils. There were 2369 candidates for 1312 seats, of whom 400 were returned unopposed. Labour candidates - defended the 561 seats won for their party at the previous elections, the Conservatives 367. the Liberals 139 and the Independents 245.

Following are the latest returns of the seats gained and lost:— . Gained. Lost. Conservatives 56 22 Liberals 12 14 Labour 39 66 Independents 25 26 Mr. Herbert Morrison says the results are somewhat unexpected. The "Observer" expresses the opinion that the results wjll greatly hearten supporters of the Government as Labour had expected to win many seats. Mr. Bamsay MaeDonald says the results show that the mass of the people are sane and not deceived by reckless promises. "The tragedy of our time," he adds, "is Labour's mishandling of issues. The leaders ought to take a lesson and realise that the management of the party' for four years has been disastrous to the movement.''