POLITICS ONLY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17938, 5 December 1923, Page 9

POLITICS ONLY.

BRITAIN'S ONE TOPIC.

THOUSANDS WAIT IN RAIN

(by cable—press association—copyright-) (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received December 4th, 9 p.m.)

LONDON, December 4

Interest in the Freetrade, Protection, and capital levy issues is intensifying. Newspapers have no room now for non-election topics. Theatres and cinemns are relatively empty, although the cold rain floes not prevent thousands waiting in a queue for two or three hours to hear a popular politician speak.

Unionist headquarters say that a compact majority of at least 50 i 3 necessary to carry an adequate Protection measure.

The Liberals and Labourites say they arj convinced that a narrow Unionist majority will necessitate another general election in a few jiionths. Mr Arthur Henderson, at Sunderland to-night, accused the Conservatives of intending to call another election in five months, in order to down Labour, knowing that Labour has not tho finances to continue the struggle. Mr Lloyd George forecasts that the Liberals will win IGO seats, Labour 140 and Independents six. against 309 which will go to the Conservatives. A TRAGIC MEETING. PENSIONER COLLAPSES ON PLATFORM. (BY CABLE —PRE 3 9 ASSOCIATION COrTRIGHT.) 'AWSTBAIIA* AND N.2. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received December 4th, 9 p.m.) LONDO'N, December 4. A tragic episode occurred at High Wycombe, where one Blake, an old-ago pensioner, offered to speak on behalf of Lady Ferrington, the Liberal candidate. He nscendcd the platform and spoke for six minutes, concluding: "Men, if~you vote tariff reform, your children will arise and curse you!"

Saying this, Blake raised his arms and fell backward —dead. In this connexion, Liberals and Labourites arc making a great play of the position of State pensioners under tariff reform. Thus the "I>ai]y Chronicle" says: —"Pensions are in peril, as a general tariff would mean 3d off the shilling on all pensions. Thus 2,300,000 will be subjected to taxation for the development of the Dominions. Thus the purchasing power of pensions would be reduced from £74,000,000 to £>55,C00,000." LLOYD GEORGE CONFIDENT. (ezutes's tileghams.) (Reoeived December 4th, 7.40 p.m.) CONDON, December 3. Mr Lloyd George, in a speech at Cambridge, declared that, whatever the result of the election might be, Liberalism would win such a triumph as had not been won for many a day. There were remarkable scenes at Mr Winston Churchill's meeting at Finsbury Park. The crowd of rowdies and his supporters vied with each other in cheering and hooting, and prevented him from speaking. Eventually Mr Churchill obtained a hearing. He declared that the interrupters were striking at the foundation of democracy. Reference to Mr Ramsay Mac Donald evoked opposition cheers and cries of, "Good old Mac!" and "Up, rebels!"

BALANCE OF POWER. WHAT THE PARTIES EXPECT. (bt cablx— pbbss association—copyaionT.) (Sydney "Sun" Service.) LONDON, December 3. The Conservatives estimate that the new Parliament will consist of 332 Conservatives, 157 Liberals, 120 Labourites, and six others. The Liberals estimate that there will be 248 Conservatives, 240 Liberals, 120 Labourites, and seven others.

The Labour estimate is:—3lo Conservatives, 139 Liberals, 160 Labour, and six others.

A "TIMES" ESTIMATE. UNIONIST MAJORITY LIKELY. (SS CABLE —PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT.) ("THE TIMES.") LONDON, December 3. "The Times" publishes the following election forecast., based on the preferences of its special correspondents throughout the country:—Unionists, 334; Labour, 139; Liberals, 126; other parties, <3. This accounts for 005 out of the 615 seats, and gives tie Unionists a lead of 63 over all other parties. The correspondents are unable to express any preference regarding the remaining 10 scats, three of which were held in the last Parliament by Unionists, five by Labourites, and two by Liberals. ROWDYISM DENOUNCED. (KlßTla'a TSLIGBAII3.) LONDON, December 3. Mr Asquith, in a speech at the Glasgow Liberal Club, denounced election rowdyism. He said he was sure it was repugnant to Labour leaders. "While lie would not hazard a conjecture regarding the precise composition of the new House of Commons, he felt reasonably confident that Mr Baldwin would not get a majority adequate to dethrone Freetrade in Great Britain.