ELECTIONS IN BRITAIN.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17610, 13 November 1922, Page 10

ELECTIONS IN BRITAIN.

FORECASTING THE RESULT. CONSERVATIVE MAJOSTTT PREDICATED.

I (By Ca'oifr—Press Association—Copyright.) '• (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received November 12, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 11. The newspapers and Party headquarters have begun estimating general election prospects. Several newspapers, after a survey of the country, express tho opinion that Mr Bonar Law is almost certain to obtain a small working majority over all other parties, i Cautious Conservative organisers andi even Labour headquarters take the same view. While Sir Robert Sanders, Minister of Agriculture, has ventured the estimate tliat the Conservatives will win 335 eeats, the forecast of the Conservative Party's headquafter3 is i Conservatives ... ... 328 Independent Liberals ... 110 National ... 60 Labour ... 105 Varibus ... 12 feature of the contest has been the* willingness of Conservatives and Liberals in constituencies to Unite »in straight, single fights against Labour by,concentrating against the proposed capital levy. It is generally agreed that this plank, together with Labour's setback in the municipal elections, has reduced Labour's prospects since the dissolution was first decided upon. It was then generally expected that Labour would win 200 seats. Labour headquarters now only expects to win 120 to 135 seats. The "Daily Express" declares that Mr Asquith's supporters are gaining ground surprisingly. The Independent Labour Party's headquarters' forecast is:— Conservatives ... ... 290' Independent Liberals ... 140 National Liberals 75 Labour ... 110 v SUPPORT FOR MR LLOYD GEORGE. BUSINESS MEWS MANIFESTO. (Received November 12, 5.6 p.m.) LONDON, November 11, Lords Aberconway, Airedale, Devonport, Illihgwortb, Leverhulmo, Pirrie and St. Davids, Sir Albert Spicer, Sir Edward Rhodes and Sir Alfred Palmer have signed a business men's manifesto appealing for support for Mr Lloyd Georgo and his followers on the ground that his policy was one of the chief causes of Britain's' gradual emergence from the post-war difficulties. Until a few days ago, business interests had the advantage that the world's foremost man, who counted most in the estimation of foreign peoples, was Prime, Minister. The signatories believe that "the Conservatives will do nothing and Labour will dib* everything and theCr policies will be equally disastrous." Mr Lloyd George was best fitted to hold the balance between Capital and Labcur, as he had a record for ameliorative statesmanship unexampled here or in any other country. LABOUR POLICY CONDEMNED. STRONG ATTACETBY MR LLOYD GEORGE. (Received November 12th, 5.6 p.m.) LONDON, November 11. Mrltiloyd George, speaking at Haver- , fordwfcst, said Britain was men&oed from within by the saino thing which had reduced Russia to«*famine and want. Unless it was Arrested at the St*rt "the whole fabric of oUr (Soft, merce, trade; and prosperity Will come ( 'down, and mighty Britain, whose native rings round the earth, will become a poor, crawling thing with her trade and commerce and financial supremacy all gone. I beg the Labour Party to reconsider .these ideas, which do not come from trade unionists, but from tbo party's theorists and intellectuals. The sooner Labour gets rid of her so-called intellectuals the better it. will "be for Labour and trade , unionisin, These ideas cannot win. The workers' commonsence is against them throughout tho land." ~ STRAIN OF THE CAMPAIGN. LEADERS INCAPACITATED. LONDON, November 10. * Mr Bonar Law, Mr Lloyd Georgjp, and Sir Asquith are suffering from the strain of electioneering. Mr Bonar Law has been ordered by his doctors to remain ! in bed for a few days. Accordingly his engagements at Manchester and Sheffield have been cancelled. Mr Asquitih has telegraphed to Paiftley asking that he be excused to-night's j meeting, owing to fears tjiat his voice may fail. Mr Lloyd George, on ifaedicsl advioe, is unable to unveil a memorial at T,la.nw dudno. Mr Asquith, speaking at Newcastle, said that if the Tories were to govfern for five years, he hoped a living, powerful Opposition would be formed, which would function better thai tho bodyguard suggested by /the late Prime Minister. Lord Novar (Secretary for Scotland), speaking at Glasgow in support of the Prime Minister, said ho had decided to support any Government, whatever its political label, which would undertake to deal energetically with the flnannial situation at home. Mr Bonar Law was a man with real Scottish respect foe the "bawbees," who expressed in sober language, not in the pelting hurricane of oratory of Celtic politicians who saw visions and dreamed dreams. - .jr.