CAMPAIGN OPENED

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 121, 18 November 1918, Page 6

CAMPAIGN OPENED

SPEECHES BY THE LEADERS

IMPORTANCE OF ELECTION STRESSED. , (Received November 18, 2 p.m.) LONDON, 17th November. Mr. IJoyd George, Mr. Bonar Law, and Mr. J. H. Barnes opened the election campaign at a great meeting in Westminster.

Mr. Lloyd George said tho new Parliament would be the most important ever elected. Upon its character depended the fate of the United Kingdom, the Empire, and through the Empire, the fate of the world. Appealing for unity, the Premier said : We do not need a strong Opposition to make a good Government, but a union of the best brains and the best traditions of every party.'' The situation in Europe was full of perilous possibilities. If the new Parliament failed through lack of courage or the selfish interests of factions of politicians, then even the institutions of the United Engdom may be swept away. "Britain/ he said, " has set an example for generations to the rest of the world for steadiness of government. Let us continue the example." A reference to the Throne exoked outbtursts of cheering. The Prime Minister said the Throne had won added respect, stability, and lustre from tho action of the occupants during the war. The Government, he continued, must go to tho Peace Conference with the authority of tho people's mandate.

He mentioned that the recruiting statistics revealed a higher percentage of physical unfits in Britain than in any freat belligerent country. That w,-«s a isgrace to a proud and prosperous country. Hundreds of thousands of men. in their prime were broken in physique because they were underfed, ill-housed, and overworked. Perhaps many were poisoned by excessive drinking, to which they had been driven by tho squalor of their surroundings. There must be a real national effort to put this right. He urged, the need for grappling with the housing question and maintaining wages at. a standard ,where the workers' strength and efficiency would be secured, and the mothers enabled to properly discharge their duty in bringing up their children. Attention should be given to developing industries and restoring those which had been neglected or crippled by unfair competition. These were problems which required thorough and systematic ■ courageons treatment by patriots, not partisans. He declared that Labour's withdrawal from the Coalition Government at a time of national- reconstruction vitally affecting Labour was the height of folly. Mr. Bdnar Law said : "We who advocated- tariff reform as part of the issue realise that the war has changed the whole aspect of these problems." We stood, he said, shoulder to shoulder with our Allies in the war, and we must stand shoulder to shoulder with, them in repairing' tho ravages of war. Mr. Barnes said he regretted the severance of the Labour Party. He was convinced he could serve Labour best by etaying in the Government till the country had reached industrial

peace.