THE H.B. TRIBUNE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1923. BRITISH POLITICAL CRISIS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 284, 16 November 1923, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1923. BRITISH POLITICAL CRISIS.

It is very evident that the British Prime Minister has brought something of a hornet's nest about the ears of himself and his Ministry by declaring the Government’s decision to introduce some measure of protection for British, indeed for imperial, producers. . We may, of course, take it that the press criticisms levelled at his proposals—which, even now, have not assumed any very precisely definite shape—are in the main dictated by old political predilections and prejudices. It was, for instance, never to be thought that so rabid an anti-Con-servative, or pro-Lloyd George, journal as the “Daily Chronicle” has recently shown itself, could do anything else than denounce whatever Mr. Baldwin might bring forward. To such fulminations we need give but little ear, and probably their very ungoverened offensiveness to him will go far towards bringing converts to his side. The accusations launched against him are, even for political diatribes, so poorly grounded and so grossly unjust that the British spirit of fair play, which operates to some extent even at general election time, will resent them and bring about a revulsion in his favour. As for the more moderate critcism and comment it is notable that from no quarter comes as yet any reallyl convincing suggestion as to an alternative that can be given anything like the speedy application that the urgency of the situation demands. Both Labour and Liiberal organs proceed to the discussion upon the basis of broad principles that were well enough matter for controversy in normal times, but which yield but little of satisfaction at the present critical juncture. Talk of this kind just now is much the same as insisting upon the debating of fine theological points before an audience of empty bellies —an altogether futile task.

It has to be at once admitted that Mr. Baldwin’s proposals are very much in the way of experiment, and that there is every indication that even he does not regard them as matters for irrevocable adoption as a permanent national policy. This, we fancy, will be pretty generally recognised, and so operate in his favour. The whole question will naturally turn on the point as to whether they will give any fair promise of immediate or early relief from a situation that has come to be intolerable even to the limit of threatening collapse for British industries. Urgent cases often demand heroic remedies, and this appears to be one'

of them. Once carried by them past the crisis, other means of nursing to convalescence and renewed strength may easily be adopted. With an adult franchise now in operation, a great deal will, of course, depend upon how workers of all classes will regard the proposals—whether they will see in them any quick prospect of a better time than has been theirs during the last year or two. We are inclined to fancy that in this respect a great many even of the supporters of the Labour Party will come to the conclusion that the remedies offered by their own politicians are too slow in ! their working to meet the present emergency and will decide on giving Mr. Baldwin, whose sincerity and straightforwardnes they cannot but appreciate, a chance to make good. In this connection it is a notable thing that, just when our latest mail i loft Home, and probably in fairly assured anticipation of a general election being necessary, the Conservative Party was taking steps to promote the candidature of working men for seats in Parliament. How I far this movement has met with response it is impossible to say here, but there can be no doubt as to I there being a very big Conservative element not only among mental, but among manual workers, and more particularly among the skilled craftsmen. To give them a chance of direct representation is obviously not only a shrewd political move, but, as Mr. Baldwin hag himself said, a fair concession. It may well be believed that among the mass of electors it will secure more votes than will be lost by the refusal to bow to the dictates of cold-blooded, if hot-worded, politicians such as Lord Birkenhead, from whom but little real sympathy for the working classes is to be expected.