BALDWIN BUSY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 275, 20 November 1935, Page 7

BALDWIN BUSY.

WORKING MAJORITY. New House of Commons Meets Next Tuesday. ELECTION OF SPEAKER. British Official Wireless. (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, November 19. The result of the election in the Orkney and Shetland Islands was declared to-day. Major Neven Spence (Con.) polled 8406 votes, and was elected, Sir Robert Hamilton (Lib.), recording 6108. This is a Conservative gain. With only one result outstanding till next Monday—Scottish Universities returning three members —Government supporters in the new House of Commons number 428 and Opposition 184. Two members ranking as Opposition, however, will not take their seats. Allowing for these two Irish members, the Government a working majority of 240. This afternoon Mr. Baldwin again saw Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, who also attended the Privy Council. Later the Prime Minister was visited by Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Mr. J. H. Thomas, Lord Halifax, Mr. Walter Runciman and the Chief Government Whip, Captain Margesson. The newspapers continue- to speculate on the reorganisation of the Government, and the suggestion is now made in some quarters that the Prime Minister may decide to make few changes in the early days of the new Parliament and postpone reconstruction until sonic time next year. Meantime, Mr. Baldwin is in consultation with his colleagues. 1 The new House of Commons will meet next Tuesday when members will be summoned to the House of Lords and directed to elect the Speaker. Captain Fitzßoy, the Speaker in the last House, will then bo formally chosen and after receiving the congratulations of the leaders of the political parties he will adjourn the House until Wednesday afternoon when the King's approval of the choice of the Speaker will be announced in the House of Lords. The Speaker will afterwards take the oath, and all other members will be sworn in. When the swearing in is completed on the following day, the House will adjourn until the State opening of Parliament by the King on December 3. A rehearsal of the procession of carriages for the State opening from Buckingham Palace to Westminster took place this morning and the journey was carefully timed by the police and Palace officials. STRIKE FAVOURED. British Coalminers' Wages Dispute. GOVERNMENT ACTION URGED. (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 19. The '"News Chronicle" correspondent at Barnslcy Rtates that the miners voted overwhelmingly in their ballot in favour of a striko throughout the coalfields over the wages dispute.

It is expected that when their leaders reach London they will urge the Minister of Mines to compel the owners to agree to an increase of 2/ a day in wages on a national basis. The owners are adamant and the situation is becoming more dangerous every day.

TORIES' PRESSURE. REMOVING MR. THOMAS. (Received 11.80 a.m.) LONDON, November 19. The Sun-Herald news service says the Conservatives are exercising strong pressure on Mr. Baldwin to transfer Mr. J. H. Thomas from the Dominions Office. To date no decision has been made.