POLITICS IN CANADA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 3 July 1925, Page 7

POLITICS IN CANADA.

GENERAL ELECTION LOOM J.NO

THE I’ARTI ES AM) ISSCKS. A Canadian general election in tin 1 Sail of this vear is -till regarded _ political wiseacres as a probability, though Die signs tin not appear to "e quite as certai,, its they were a tew months ay<>. when the Government seemed to he preparing; to appeal to the countrv just as -eon as arrangements .<m Id he made, says the Auckland Herald's Toronto correspondent.

The Government's supporters in the Maritime Provinces are unitedly opposed to an election this tear. they think the times are nut propitious, and tor an interesting reason. Iheie have been frequent tefcrenees to current economic discontent in these provinces. Discontent t'heie is no new thing. the ■‘hitie-noses"' have never been thorough]y satisfied with eontederat ion. .Htit this discontent is now more aggravated than usual, and further, it is now. lor almost the first time, being capitalised for party purposes. Theie has recently emerged a ••.Maritime Rights" Party. Liberals sav that it is onlv the old ( onservativc lal l.' i„ sheep's clothing, hut it has developed such strength that it has struck terror into the hearts of■ focal Liberal leaders. Provincial Libera Goveruinents in lioth Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have to go to the countrv this vear. and it is feared that the Maritime Rights movement will rock, if not seriously defeat*, both <>t them, although in Nova Scotia the Liberals have bee,, in power lor 4«» years. It would he foolish, say these advisers, to risk a Dominion election this year when it is not necessary. In another year, they argue, the partisan inspiration of the Maritime Lights movement will he revealed and its menace largely removed.

Another factor tending towaids the postponement of an election lias been the sensational break in the pi ice m wheat. Two-dollar wheat almost made the ballot boxes rattle. Tor tw o-dol Ia t wheat spells prosperity i u Canada .not onlv on the wheat-growing prairies, but everywhere-now that the country s exportable surplus lia s become so large. The psychological influence of wheat prices iias become so marked that one nutv feel in industrial centres a thousand miles from the wheat country., the industrial barometer moving upward when wheat moves up. Lniortnnately two-dollar wheat lasted only a lew da vs. And the business community as well as the farmers js again sitting hack to wait for some new sign of better times. The sign may come with a bumper crop this year. And a bumper crop this year will be a strong argument for an election next September or October.

After the most tedious and longest Budget debate on record the Canadian Government's financial proposals tor tin' year were finally adopted by a majority of 37. a substantial victory for an administration which on paper has no majority at all. Seventeen I togressives voted with the Government, thus again evidencing the entente which lias been developing between the Liberals and a section of the thud party. At the outset of the debate u looked as thought the entente might break down altogether and the Government suffer a near defeat. At the conclusion of the debate the Prime Minister. Mr. W. I*. Mackenzie King, threatened the House with an early dissolution if the work of the Government was further obstructed. Conservatives alleged this was - a bluli. which was effective, to bring the Progressives into line. As an indication of the issues which will divide the parties when the election comes, the Budget debate was a> colourless as wa s the Budget itself Progressives preached free trade though they know there is no chanei

either of its adoption or of any hirthor substantial reduction of existing tariffs at prose nt. Conservatives preached protection—-I)iglier protection l>v implication — than has ever before been advocated in Canada. Sir Henry -Dray-

ton. the nail y's leading financial critic, argued that 7()o,<)o<>.lKM> dollars of Canada’s imports —the greater part ol them —were of goods that might he manufactured jn Canada. A tariff that would keep them out would he. indeed, in the phrase of .another Canadian protectionist. as high as Hainan’s gallows. "Undoubtedly the demand for high protection will make a strong appeal in Ontario and Quebec, where industry is depressed with hundreds of factories closed and much unemployment in evidence. Unemployment would he more aggravated were it not for the exodus to the United States which is made the basis of further indictment of cur-

rent policies. The campaign for higher protection is. however, hampered by the revolt of the maritime provinces ndtfed to that of the West against even existing protection—a revolt which is taking ;l form which threatens the very basis of confederation. The Coverhment holding middle ground seems to be in the strategic position, for the moment at least, on the tariff issue. And if an election come.s next fall, as seems probable, it is doubtful if after all it will be fought and won on the tariff issue. What the issue will be is as yet undetermined. There are signs that a big light is looming on the Canadian National railways. and although there has been little public discussion of it yet. it may develop suddenly and violently, furnishing the issue on which the political fate of Canada for the next live years may turn. There is, too. a possibility that the .Government's campaign against the Atlantic shipping companies may develop into an issue, necessitating an appeal to the country, though party advisers differ as to the desirability of un election on such an issue. Though there are many reasons against, an earlv election there is no doubt that the Government chafes under the situation at Ottawa. Lacking a majority. |t has to carry on business by sufferance. Signs of demoralisation among both its opponents tempt it to risk the combat. So far it has been held in restraint by the considerations mentioned. The decision, however, rests with the Government, and if at any' time it is convinced that broader strategy requires an immediate election its decision will be loyally accepted by the rank and file.