ENGLISH POLITICS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 9, 11 January 1929, Page 6

ENGLISH POLITICS

CONFIDENCE IN BALDWIN POSITION OF LIBERALS . (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post") AUCKLAND, This Day. The political situation in England was discussed by Mr. Justice Herdman, who has returned from an extensive tour of Britain, Europe, and America. Mr. Justice, Herdman said the British Government was struggling to straighten out a difficult tangle. The most difficult problems of all were how trade could be revived and how taxation could be re&uced. Business men were anxiously concentrating upon the first problem with, he thought, success. Before he left England people were more hopeful. In regard ■: to taxation, the British Government was doing its best to keep expenditure within bounds. Less money was being spent oh the ■ Army and Navy, and it was reported before he /left that an end had been made to the granting of war pensions. If the report was true, then the British Government had evidently taken 'the view that a period often years after the end of the war a reasonable time_ within which application for war pensions or for increases in pensions should be entertained. Thus would be saved to the hard-pressed taxpayers the cost of upkeep of an'expensive machinery. ■.',■■•■■ ' .. • ■ . !

Asked about the coming' election in 'England, Mr.. Justice Herdman said he could only give personal impressions for what they were worth. Anything might happen between now and the election date to alter the fate of a political party. It seemed reasonably certain that the Liberal Party was derelict and phat Lloyd George, unless he allied himself with Labour, would continue to gaze on the Treasury benches from a distance. Baldwin stood firm in the confidence of thoughtful people. Like every public man he had his detractors, but he possessed one great asset:/ he was trusted by a large section of. the community. He avoided the limelight, he worked away quietly and steadily, his speeches breathed uprightness and sincerity, he was disinterested, and it was plain to anyone that he was animated by high sentiments and a deep love of Ms country. „ , ■

"Some say that ho lacks force and masculinity; but his management of the difficult situation created by the general strike proves that he is capable of courageous and effective effort in. times of national crisis," continued his Honr our. "Up to the date on which I left England the results of by-elections had not indicated any serious weakening of Conservative support. It is, no doubt, significant that at the recent municipal elections striking successes were gained by Socialists, but those who can speak with authority declare that no definite deduction either way cau be made from these \ victories."