MAJORITY AS MANDATE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 97, 21 October 1931, Page 9

MAJORITY AS MANDATE

POLICY OF PEOTECTION

CONSERVATIVE ATTITUDE

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 21st October, 11 a.m.)

KUGBY, 20th October,

Mr. Neville Chamberlain (Conservative), Health Minister in the National Government, in a speech at Birmingham last night, disagreed with the Chancellor of tho Exchequer's statement that tho Conservative leaders would not regard a majority in the circumstances of this election as a mandate for a general system of protection. Mr. Chamberlain said that he understood tho Prime Minister's declaration as indicating that they would bring a free mind to tho examination of the problems before them, unhampered by any pledges which would prevent them from putting into operation whatever remedy was thought necessary.

The Prime Minister's election addross dealing with tho need for effecting a trade balance, again refers to the fiscal question. Mr. Maeßonald says:—

The National Government will examine the facts and causes and be prepared to apply any remedy which it believes to be effective. One section thinks that tariffs are essential, another that they may not be found to be the case, but we are all determined to approach the subject with a practical mind and in the light of our immediate needs. Agreements with the Dominions should play an important part in this work.

Protests against Mr. Snowden's condemnation of tho Labour Party programme were a feature of last night's speeches at Labour meetings. Mr. Arthur Henderson, Leader of the Opposition, said that their programme was tho same as that put forward in 1928 with tho approval of both Mr. Bamsay Mac Donald and Mr. Snowden.