GAUNTLET DOWN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 6 October 1924, Page 5

GAUNTLET DOWN

MACIONALD READY. CHA3LENGE ISSUED. 8X OABLB—PBBS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT (Received Oct. 6, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, Oct.*s. Mr. Macßhald, in a special interview with aßeynolds News representative at Gequers yesterday, said: “I regret that national interests are being -acrificed to party tactics and tnat th business of the nation is brought to a standstill, while Conservatives .nd Liberals conspire to turn out t'e Government on a side issue. My Select Committee, whereto I would .ppeal, is not ten members of the Houe of Commons but twenty million elecdrs. While Ido not seek the election ! am not afraid of it. By . creating a, condition of affairs which no Governient can accept their action takes fron the Government the authority it equires. in order to conduct the businss of the • nation at home and abrod, forces an election, and compels i> to give up at. a time when I think' very patriotic move should induce tern to maintain the status quo. R? are ready to meet the challengf on Russia and Genera or anything else. LONDON, Oct. 4. The Jaily Telegraph’s lobbyist declares tat it has been established beyond oubt that the amendment by Sir John Simon (Liberal) is in order ad will be moved. Ministers view tb amendment as being just as much ; censure motion as the amendment < the Unionists. Mr 1 Winston Churchill, in his first speechit Epping, expressed the opinion that A election could not long be delayed:’ One of the chief issues would be wether a. guaranteed loan would Ire obred to Russia. Three or four monts ago Mr. Ramsay MacDonald himslf said that there would be no quesion of guaranteeing the loan. Mr. Cliuihill said he was willing that ever • possible impediment should be remyed to' allow business men to trao with Russia at their own risk, but he was most strongly opposed to givig an advantage which we did not . givito the Dominions or other friendly Poors to the Soviet regime, the worst am meanest tyranny the world had eve seen. blonel Wedgwood, speaking at New_ poo, said the Liberal leaders, by a suerb blunder, must inevitably split th party. If forced to a. general electia all reqllv Radical members would suport the Government on both issues efcsen for censure, and thereafter they , widd become finally identified with Lbour. Official Liberalism, by taking t¥, Tory side against the Russian tifity, would re-establish the twoprty system and destroy its own. The Daily Express editorially de- • nuiices the holding of an election, on tb ground of its interference Avith businss. It argues that Mr. Ramsay MacRnald having failed as the head of ‘l minority Government of caretkers,” is not entitled to seek a disslution, and suggests that Mr. MacLhald should resign and the Unionists, ie strongest party, carry -on the Govrnment till economic conditions are ipre opportune for an election. A Labour official states that the arty is ready for an election, its om anisation being up to the highest pitch f. perfection. Th© party will vigorous, y defend the Anglo-Russign treaties. /..Prominent Labourites, including Mr. Ifj Wheatley and Mr. Ste\\:art, speaking on Saturday night, emphasised that an election is imminent. Mr. Campbell, editor of the Work- ■ ers’ Weekly, whose dropped prosecution is one of the causes of the political ; crisis, speaking at Doncaster, reaffirmed that the article complained of u*as written specifically under his direction. He said the case Ava s dropped in a most surprising manner. It was dropped because of pressure brought against the Government by all sections of the Labour Party.