Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, MARCH 25th., 1929. HOMELAND POLITICS

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 March 1929, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, MARCH 25th., 1929. HOMELAND POLITICS

| gY-ELECTIONS proverbially go I against the Government, : especially if the vacancies are i through the deaths or retirements ; of Members whose personal popui larity enabled them to hold the i seats for long periods. The results i of the recent by-elections in the j Homeland, although unsatisfactory i to Mr. Baldwin and his supporters, : will not be accepted by them as ► heralding disaster, although the re-

verses will inspire them to greater efforts during the general election campaign. The enormous Conservative majority in the House of Commons has caused semi-apathy among the Ministerialists, who have not troubled to make every post a winning one.

The Opposition, naturally, are making the most of their successes,

but close analysis of the results would temper their gratification, especially the Liberal enthusiasm. Nothing has yet occurred warranting predictions of Mr. Lloyd George being the next Premier, and it will be a great surprise if the Liberals do any better than hold the balance of power. The chances are still in favour of the 1 Conservatives maintaining office, if with a greatly diminished majority. That narrower margin would be good for them, as well as for the country. Labour’s recent victories have been gained in urban areas, where' that Party’s support is usually strong. It is generally assumed that without rural support, no Party can gain a majority in the House of Commons. It . does not matter a great deal to the overseas lands of the Empire, which political Party wins the Homeland general elections, as happily, Empire affairs are not dependent on political factions, but those overseas residents who prefer a. Conservative Ministry have the satisfaction of knowing that despite recent checks, the general election prospects, at present, favour the present Government. . Rumours are busy concerning the reconstruction of the Ministry, should Mr. Baldwin again succeed. It is claimed by some that Earl Balfour, owing to his great age, will retire from the next Ministry, and that Sir A. Chamberlain may be made a peer, and have an office, less important than the Foreign Secretaryship, assigned to hitn. He personally prefers to remain in the Commons, and continue as Foreign Secretary, but, even in his own Party there are many who think that his ill-health prevents him doing justice to the great responsibilities the Foreign Office entails, Mr. Bridgeman, First Lord of the Admiralty, is to retire, and to be made a peer, and other of the present Ministers are expected to make way for younger men. However, all these forecasts and expectations may be unwarranted. The only thing certain is that the Homeland is on the eve of one of the most interesting political campaigns in her long Parliamentary history, and the developments will be followed at Home and overseas with very close interest, but little anxiety.