BRITISH ELECTION RESULT

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26055, 7 March 1950, Page 5

BRITISH ELECTION RESULT

Comment By National Weekly Papers PARTIES URGED TO COMPROMISE (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.AJ (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON. March 6. The national weekly newspapers, although they discuss the question from different points of view, agree that nothing would be served by precipitating another election in Britain, at least until there is some reasonable prospect that a more decisive verdict will be obtained than on February 23. Although they also agree that there is no prospect of a workable coalition, the “Economist” and the “Spectator” both suggest that some immediate attempt should be made by the Labour Party and the Conservatives to arrive at a working agreement on questions where their political ideologies do not conflict. The “New Statesman and Nation” does not discuss this, but •devotes more attention to the Labour Party’s prospects of winning the next election with a decisive majority. The “Economist” says that the country's indecisive verdict on February 23 was a calamity for Britain, in that it has divested the Government of even such power of taking decisions and of policy-making as it formerly possessed.

“It must, however, be recognised that the election reproduced the wall of the people with singular exactness, and that no purpose will be served by having another election until there is manifest reason to believe that the circumstances have changed and that a decisive verdict can be obtained,” the ‘Economist” continues. “Until that tune comes, it is the duty of both the Government and the Opposition to carry on the King’s Government as best they can.” m[ or^ing ’ Arrangement” Advocated The “Spectator” agrees with these conclusions. but emphasises that it is ♦k P° ssi ble for the Government and the Opposition to arrive at a working arrangement. The “Spectator” continues: “It is particularly necessary that something should be done by the Party leaders to correct the unfavourable impressions which have been created abroad by the present situation.

A difficult situation must be faced with firm determination to put the country’s interests first. Another elecmany months hence seems inand the temptation to make Party capital wherever possible in ad*ance is also inevitable. The House oi Commons can succumb to the temptation or -rise above it. If it can do Me latter, then in no narrow party I®? 8 ® we shall assuredly win through together.” . “ New Statesman and Nation” ’Although technically Mr Att- £ e ® “3? , an overall majority, actually ne will be at the mercy of the Oppoi/P on ’ an d so long as the present Parliament lasts the business of the coun- • Wl . have to be conducted by a ’ of uneasy compromises and U An Und erst an dings.” ter. emphatically rejecting any •witk^u 10n compromise on policy ♦h? 11 Conservatives or the Liberals, A l ®. New Statesman and Nation” that Mr Attlee’s best chance of SJErin? a . majority of the country tJii - m is to restate the Socialist f ln - terms of the actual problems tacing the country—a task, says c*® newspaper. which the Labour 52?®° in the recent election “lainenuibly failed t 0 do .„ ? ns P° r t House assumed too easily Labour had benefited the vnta T SI L e ’ the countryside would cJ? Labour,” concludes the “New ♦iAt®^n a n and Nation.” “In fact, manv the Labour poll increased in siria? the social pressure on the E rpat Of 4J e T or ies is still immensely rhe time has come for a new cam Paign in which the Labour of , the great industrial cities dktro tO jth e rescue of the politically tb^m SSed agricultural areas around J es ? on of February 23 is that pioneering was not less but fire* ™ or -® P ec essary under Labour’s an Government. Without it and urgent renewal of WnrL-;^ 111 b ® .impossible to achieve the ,majority reouired to finish w ® task begun in 1945.”

-V'etorian Police System.—The Vic-' authorities are planning to imusp P°lice patrol system by the 1- ® wireless cars and by exenvo n V he wireless patrol network to an en tire State. This follows of American-type gangnnmvJ 30 * 1 ® 5 m Melbourne, where a unmi r P ers °ns have been fired March 6° m moving cars - —Melbourne,