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Canadian Politics

The sensational defeat of Government candidates in the Canadian provincial elections this week is not altogether a surprise. Recent political trends in Canada have been leftwards if only because the right has held power for four years now. The Conservatives under Mr Bennett came into office in July, 19.30, with an open mandate to attack widespread unemployment and agricultural and industrial stagnation with any weapon that might be effective. They chose high protection and until last year were permitted by the country and the Opposition to rule unhampered by serious criticism. During this period they drastically changed several policies and institutions; they erected their tariff wall; and they tried to assist their farmer constituents with an ambitious wheat marketing scheme. But Canada is now showing decisively; as it began to show last year, that it is dis-

satisfied with Conservative rule. Partly, no doubt, this dissatisfaction is mere weariness. Yet the Conservatives have provided their opponents with abundant material for platform charges. Although their tariff policy has so far revived Canadian industry that for the first four months of 1934, according to a cable message this week, Canada led the world in increased industrial production, their policy has failed to increase general employment, and it was pointed out by the " Round Table " recently that since the Conservatives came into power "the plight of the agricul- " turists has gone from bad to " worse." The first signs of dissatisfaction appeared last October, when at three Federal by-elections Liberals won overwhelming majorities over the Government candidates. Then at the provincial elections in Nova Scotia and British Columbia Conservative ministries were unseated. The present disastrous defeat of Government forces completes the rout, for Ontario and Saskatchewan were the last Conservative strongholds; and these two provinces return between them nearly half the membership of the Canadian House of Commons. The present Government has more than 12 months of life to run; and it is not likely that Mr Bennett will anticipate the date, as he has been expected to. The signs are so heavily against him. The Liberals have now all except the large industrial interests on their Side. Recently, for instance, they have made capital in the electorate out of the Government's decision to resume the traditional practice of recommenciing honours and decorations for Canadians. Mr Mackenzie King and his supporters therefore seem to face a smiling future. But whether the Liberals will be able to do more than the Conservatives to assist and increase general employment in their country is another question. The fiscal issue is the only one that deeply divides the two parties. Perhaps the Liberals' best hope is a sweeping revival of world trade, which would enable them suddenly to reap more than they had sown.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19340623.2.63

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21198, 23 June 1934, Page 12

Word Count
458

Canadian Politics Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21198, 23 June 1934, Page 12

Canadian Politics Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21198, 23 June 1934, Page 12

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