ELECTION STORM CENTRE

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 58, 3 December 1923, Page 7

ELECTION STORM CENTRE

DEVELOPED IN NORTHERN BRITAIN ARTISAN POPULATION’S VOTES MAY DECIDE ISSUE LABOUR LEADER AND A CAPITAL LEVY In the British election campaign a storm centre has developed in the north, where the votes of the large artisan population* are expected to play an important part in deciding the issue. Mr. Lloyd George declares that once the country gets into the clutches of protection it will not escape from them without generations of struggle. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald’s latest declaration with regard to a capital levy is that if it was proved impracticable by Treasury ■officials no Government would pursue it.

By Teiegiuph—Press Association. -Copyright.

(Rec. December 2, 5.5 p.m.)

London, December 1

An ©lection storm centre has developed in the north, where, the votes of the huge artisan population are expected to play a most important part in deciding the issue. Even among experts there is a baffling conflict of views regarding the results of the polling. . . Mr. Baldwin' is well pleased l 'with his rt'ccess in Glasgow and Bradford. He holds his next meeting in Liverpool on Monday. “CRAZY DOCTRINE OF NO MORE WAR.” Lord Birkenhead, speaking at Liverpool. said that during the black years before the war, while the Liberals and Socialists adopted resolutions calling for a reduction of armaments, the Tories. undeceived, had insisted upon the supreme importance of strengthening the Army and Navy. Was he to, remain silent when men were preaching the same crazy doctrine that there would be no more war? Wherever he met such sentimental folly, said Lord Birkenhead, he* would castigate it. Mr. Asquith, speaking at Manchester again protested against what he termed the trick election, and declared that Britain, being a small island, must depend, upon overseas supplies of food. . Mr. Churchill, at Leicester, pleaded for a peaceful birthday, but his interrupters were relentless. [Mr. Churchill was born on November 30. 1874.] MR. LLOYD CEORCE AND THE TARIFF ISSUE. Mr. Lloyd George spent yesterday among his owq people. His appeal to his constituents, whom he has represented for thirty-four years, is personal rather than political. The former Premier says: "Ont» you get into the clutches of protection you will never escape from them without generations of struggle. I predict with absolute confidence that whatever the representation in Parliament may be, a rast maioritv of the electors will vote igainst protection. You might have millions for free trade, but . a protectionist majority in Parliament That raises al great constitutional

issue. If vou undermine respect for authority nnd for the foundation of the law in this country, there is no knowing what the end mav be.” IF CAPITAL LEVY PROVED IMPRACTICABLE. Mr Ramsav MacDonald’s solid defence in Aberavon promises to be severely tried. He has never made the same sneeoh twice. There is no repetition even at the smallest village meetings. His latest declaration regard to a capital levy is that if it was proved unworkable and impracticable bv Treasury officials, no Government would! nursue it.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HOW LORD BEAVERBROOK WOULD VOTE. (Rec. December 3. 0.5 a.m.) London, December 2. Lord Beaverbrook, writing in the “Sunday Express.” savs if he were a voter he would cast his vote simply on the preference issue, irrespective of party. He would vote for the Conservative who favoured the full Imperial nolicv. hut he would prefer an Imperialist irrespective of party allegiance to a narrow-minded Conservative who believed! the evil of unemployment could be cured bv Mr. Baldwin’s limited protection. Regarding Labour as the nartv with no Imperial policy ah all. he should vote against it every time. "LORDS CATHEREM AND BOTHEREM.” The “Observer.” in a leading article on the thinly-disguised “Lords Gatherem and Botherem,” says, “It looks as if thev had made anti-trust legislation inevitable in connection with journalism.” The “Observer’s” political correspondent cannot guess how the tactics of the Press Trust will operate. Their methods in the last few weeks have been without precedent in any country. Them would be a genuine surprise on the Unionist side if Labour came hank with less than 130. or Lib-. eralism with more than 150. Mr. Baldwin, in a. manifesto to women. savs: “The patience of the workers must not pass into despair. By protecting homo industries we can give the workers fair plav.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn