BRITISH ELECTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 November 1935, Page 7

BRITISH ELECTIONS

LABOUR’S FINAL BROADCAST. [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS] RUGBY-, November 8. .The effect of broadcast speeches on the attendance at political meetings is the subject of some discussion, and in many constituencies it is believed that the voters have, to a considerable extent, preferred to hear these speeches in the comfort of their own homes, rather than attend meetings. The party organisers are waiting with considerable interest to discover whether there will be larger attendances at meetings next week, when there will be no political counter-attractions on the wireless. The final Labour broadcast was given by Mr Herbert Morrison, who criticised the Government’s foreign policy,, on the grounds that inadequate support had been given to the League of Nations, and the various visits by the Minister to foreign capitals represented a return to pre-war methods of secret diplomacy. The ’ effect of this, he said, was to weaken the status and authority of the League, and 1 to spread suspicion. He attributed the diminution of unemployment to the general improvement in world trade, and the departure from the gold standard, rather than to Government action. A Labour Government, he added, would proceed step by step to transfer the ownership of land and great industrial undertakings from private persons to appropriate authorities, so that the economic activities of the community should be efficiently organised for public industry and national advantage, and not for private profit.

MR BALDWIN’S SPEECH. 1 o 5 RUGBY, November £. The Prime Minister, in a speech at . Leeds, emphasised again the Govern- i Kent’s determination to do all in its j power through the League of Nations, < .to bring peace in the world. When ( peace came, and he hoped it would , come before too much harm was ; done, they would have to make re- ] newed efforts to remove 'the fear that t hung over Europe. Until then, and ( until people 'felt confidence that peace £ was assured, it was impossible ] to get that beginning of the flow of j international trade which was essen- j tial. There were countries which ] were getting less and less prosperous, countries in- which the standard ] of living was becoming lower. Until ] there were such feelings of security ( in Europe, that nations could put i vast sums of money and vast numbers j of people, who to-day were working 1 on munitions, into industry, he could i see no chance of those countries becoming more prosperous. Conditions ; in which people were less prosperous, i less happy, nad less comfortable tended to make for less stability. Lovers of freedom in those countries, he declared, were watching Britain at this time, and praying that she should stand firm. 1 PROMINENT CANDIDATES RUGBY, November 8. At present, public interest in the general election centres on one or two contests in which leading personalities are engaged. ’Mr. Ramsay MacDonald is involved in what is generally agreed to be a hard fight at Seaham Harbour, a mining constituency. Mr. MacDonald refused to consider a safer seat. He is opposed by Mr. E. Shinwell, Secretary of Mines in the Hast Labour Government, as a National Labour candidate. Mr McDonald is assured of the unqualified support of the Conservative voters, hut the attitude of the Liberals is doubtful. His majority at the last election was just under 6,000, in a total vote of about 52,000. Sir- John Simon has represent Spen Valley since 1922. His majority al the last election was 'just over 4,000, and Labour, which won the seat / in 1919, is making a determined attack. The large Liberal element in the constituency, which supported him as the Liberal National candidate the last time, may be more divided on this occasion, on the tariff issue. Sir H. Sampel is under fire from both Conservative and Labour opponents, in Darwen. He had a majority of over 4,000, as a supporter of the National Government, at the last election, although he was oppos'Cd by an official Conservative, who polled heavily at East Bristol. The Socialist leader, Sir Stafford the Labour Party executive, over Cripps, who recently resigned from the Labour Partv executive, over Sanctions, is opposed in a straight fight by a National Laboufi candidate, Major Church. Sir S. Cripps defeated his Conservative opponent ' .at the last election by 429 votes. • Several members of the last Labour Cabinet who were defeated in 1931, are expected to regain their seats in the West of Scotland, which was a Labour stronghold before 1931. The Socialist .vote will be split by rival candidates of the official Labour Tarty and the Independent Labour Party.