A STRAIGHT FIGHT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 October 1924, Page 5

A STRAIGHT FIGHT

LABOUR VERSUS ALL OTHERS. MacDONALD’S POLICY. SIGNIFICANT PROPOSALS. by Cable—press association—copyright. ] Received Oct. 15. 10.40 a.m. LONDON, Oct. 14. Mr. MacDonald’s speech at Glasgow was the first political utterance to be broadcasted in Britain, and it was disappointing. The Premier’s voice had too many modulations for the microphone ; moreover, he paced the platform and banged the table, drowning his words. The Daily Mail predicts that if 80 per cent, of Conservatives vote, the party will obtain an independent majority. LONDON, Oct. 13. In a speech at Glasgow, which was broadcasted throughout the country, the Premier (Mr Ramsay MacDonald) emphasised that at any rate two-thirds of the Russian loan would be spent in British industrial centres. When Labour came into office the League of Nations was practically dying. “W T e went to Geneva,” said Mr MacDonald, “gave a. lead, and the League to-day is more vigorous than over.” Mr MacDonald complained that the Government had not had fair play in Parliament, where it met with pettifogging partisan trickery to prevent 1 an honest Government doing its work. Finally he appealed to the nation to put an end to contemptible party tactics hv giving the Government a clear majority. News from the constituencies shows that, there will be local co-operation between the Liberals and the Conservative on a considerable scale. The Conservatives are no longer hampered by the dear food question, which alienated a big women’s vote in 1923. The Conservatives are also helped by the popular newspapers, which are vigorously supporting them. Thus the Daily Express, which at the last election gave the Conservatives lukewarm support, is now strongly opposing Labour on the ground that the cause of Imperial unity has been moved backwards by the Singapore decision, which is not unlike the betrayal of Australia and New Zealand. This impression has been deepened by allowing the Japan- . ese clause in the Geneva protocol com- ' pelling Australia and New Zealand to arbitrate in connection with the coloured immigrant on pain of possibly having the British Fleet used against them. Apart from Mr MacDonald’s opening campaign speech, the most noticeable features of yesterday were the developments in connection with the selection of candidates throughout the country. These are likely to afford the chief interest for several days.- Following on the announcement that the Conservatives will not oppose Mr H. H. Asquith (the Liberal leader) came news that his henchman, Sir Donald MacLean. had decided to contest East Cardiff, leaving a Conservative to fight a Labourite in Kilmarnock, and a Liberal nominee has been left to fight a Labourite in the Tradeston division of Glasgow. Earl Derby visited Leigh, Lancashire, in connection with the local situation, after which tlie Liberal Association withdrew its candidate, leaving a Conservative to fight Labour. Apart from actual withdrawals there are several eases in which each party is not proceeding to choose a candidate where the other party already has a strong candidate in the field. The effect of party moves on the rank and file remains an enigma. The Morning Post, commenting on the impression at Labour headquartersthat they will get an appreciable support from the radical section of the Liberal Party, says: “This should make the Conservative Associations cautious in their arrangements with the Liberals over three-cornered contests.” Another factor in the situation is the cleavage between the Liberals and the Conservatives regarding preference. Motions were passed by the executive of the National Liberal Federation, as well as by the Free Trade Union, asking candidates to pledge themselves against protective and preferential duties. Describing the avalanche of Conservative leaflets the Morning Post says: “These are not only against the Socialists. The little folder reminds voters that the Liberals, by opposing preference, show that they want to keep the home market for the foreigner.” The most interesting development on the Labour side is the adoption of Dr. Addison, a former Liberal Minister, as the Labour candidate against Sir William Bull (Conservative) in Hammersmith South: At Carnarvon the Labourites have adopted Professor Zimmern to oppose Mr Llovd George. All the parties are calling attention to the great body of electors who did not vote at the last election. v Tbe instances given are West Leyton, where 11,370 did not record their votes, Whitechapel (10,000), and Shoreditch, where less than 50 per cent polled. The broadcasting of Mr MacDonald’s speech was not regarded as a complete success. Listeners lost passages when his voice fell or the speaker turned or even strode along the platform. Nevertheless the Daily Express states that its shorthand writers were able to take verbatim passages in the London office. Mr MacDonald said that two great parties, professing to be fundamentally opposed, were going on their knees to each other arranging to withdraw candidates because they were afraid of Labour. Defending the Russian loan, the Premier said that if the first instalment of £10,000,000 was c issued it would become a credit for' Russian orders, and would not leave the country at all.

Miss Ishbel MacDonald also spoke. She said: “Father has told you the Government has won the confidence of the country. He is too modest. The Government has won the confidence of this nation and of the world. I meet the ambassadors and others from abroad, and they tell me. though they are not very keen to do it, that in the Labour Government the world has found a friend. ” Mr H. Becker, who was elected for Richmond (Surrey) in 1922 as an Independent. and again last year as a Conservative, states that he will not contest the seat again on the ground that he hne been disowned by the newly-formed local Conservative* Association, which adopted Sir Newton Moore, who is expected from South Africa on Saturday. Colonel. Shaw (Unionist) has withdrawn his candidature for Paisley, leaving Mr Asquith a straight fight against the Labourite (Mr Mitchell)"’