HOME POLITICS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17103, 26 March 1921, Page 9

HOME POLITICS.

THE LABOUR PARTY. '

MR LLOYD GEOBGE'S ATTACK.

(By C«bl*~Pf»N Awoeiation— Oopyrigto.) (Australian and N.Z. Oablo A«sooiation,) LONDON, March 23.

Mr Lloyd George, speaking at a Coalition luncheon at tho House of Commons, said that while military dangers no longer existed, one now peril was tho phenomenal rise of a new party of a most subversive.character, which called itself Labour, hut was in leality Socialist. Tho country had not fully realised the danger, which menaced both Parliamentary institutions and private enterprise. The now party wanted to plant tho wild and poisonous seeds of Karl Marxism. In the bv-elcctions of 1920 tho Coalition polled 226,000 votes, Labour 201,000, and Independent Liberals and others 122,000. A change of 4 per cent, in the vote would put tho Socialists in a majority. Disaffection would float them into power. The Independent Liborals might plough and harrow and sow, but Labour would reap. \ The Labour Party's speeches and its Press organisation wore all engaged in stirring up disaffection throughout the country. After tho Great War tlioro were heavy burdens to bo borne, and unemployment and trouble of every kind, and it was easy to foment discontent. The Socialists were consolidating their forces, whilo their enemies wore dividing and trying to destroy each .other. Unless prompt stops were taken, a party would come into power which had no experience, which had had no responsibility of Government, and had a policy dictated by people who had even less 1 - experience behind them. t Mr Lloyd George, concluded:—"Wo must take every measure to instruct tho electorates whioh, at no distant date, will have to decide the destiny of the country."

[Thin is the second occasion within ft week on which Mr Lloyd George has attacked the Labour Party. Addressing the Coalition-Liberals at the 1920 Club on March 18th, he said the Labour Party was a great, formidable ( party, which would become the dominating party, unless steps wore ,taken to inform the electors what issues were inyolved. "There are," he said, "millions of people whose political views aro unformed, Thej must be Bhown that tho Labour policy means the destruction of private property and private enterprise, and the conversion of • tho whole means of production into a State machine. That may be Rood or bad. but it is a complete revolution." If lia thought the Coalition existed merely to defend tho interests, power> iana Srofits of Canital, he would quit the oalition in d.agust, but the capitalists were as deeply concerned for the people's welfare as anybody.] LABOUR PARTY EETOETB. LONDON. March 24. Labour has quickly taken up the glove which Mr , Lloyd George has thrown down. . . vMr J. R. Clynes, M.P. (Manchester) says the Premier's speech is 1 an oratorical bogey intended to frighten the, electors. . ' • ~ Mr Ramsay Maodonald says Mr Lloyd George's Bolsheijk bog6y of 1918 having failed, the Prime Minister is starting a new one. , . ~ , , Mr H. M. Hyndman says the "whole thine is humbug." ~ Iv ~ , - Mr Will Thome considers Mr Lloya George "is starting a class war." , ME AUSTEN OHAMBEELAIN. LONDON, iMarch 28. Mr Austen Chamberlain, who ' has been Chancellor of Exchequer sinoA January, 1919, has teen appointed Lord Privv Seal. The appointment necwsi-, tates his re-election to the House jpr for Birmingham West. , BPEAKEE OF HOUSE OF COMMONS. LONDON, March 24. Mr Lloyd George has offered the Rt. Hoh. J, H. Whitley (Co.-Liberal) the Speakership of the House of Commons. [The Rt. Hon. John Henrv Whitley, P.C.. member of the House of Commons for Halifax since 1900, had been De-puty-Speaker of the House since 1911.The present Speaker Is the Rt. Hon; J W. Lowther. who has represented the Penrith Division of Cumberland for 35 years t and has been Speaker of the House since 1905.]