Fiscal Battle

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 286, 19 November 1923, Page 6

Fiscal Battle

[ POLITICAL PROPHETS UNCERTAIN CONSERVATIVE DISUN lON. LABOUR FIGHTING ALONE. (Received 19, 2.10 p.iu.) London, Nov. 18. Political prophets are reluctant t< prophesy the results bi the election on the momentous issue upon which the party has hud no time to prepare ground. Lord Younger, chief organiser o fthe Conservative victory of 1922, has been recalled from retirement to take hrs old post. He told ua interviewer that he never felt so uncertain about the esult of any election. The protectionist issue, while reuniting the Liberals, has caused dissension among the Conservatives, a minority of whom uro free traders. Although the dissension in the Conservative Parliamentary ranks has been healed the Conservative press is divided. Some papers outspokenly describe the election us a serious political blunder ami express istrong resentment against Mr Baldwin for throwing overboard Mr Bunar Law’s policy of tranquillity, putting the party to the hazard of an election, placing the Conservative free traders in an awkward predicament. The Conservative organisers expect the Government to be returned with a majority in the vicinity of fifty instead of the present 77. There is no prospect of an agreement between the Liberal and Labour or ganisations to support one another’s candidates. A prominent labourite stated: “ We do not intend to clean the plates for the Liberals to eat off. Lab our intends to light a lone hand henceforth, being hopeful oi increasing its representation in each successive Parliament until the party obtains a majority. ’ ’ Optimistic Liberals talk about sweeping the country on the protectionist : issue as in 1916. but cautious observers, while they admit that the Liberal.- 1 must increase their strength, are not i inclined to admit any likelihood of < heavy gains. Some Liberal gains are < probable at the expense of Labour. i The prophets consider that a sub- | stantial .increase in Labour representa- ( tion is unlikely, and it is* suggested that th© Liberals will be the second , strongest party in the new Parliament, displacing Labour as the official Opposition. ’ if the Conservatives fail to obtain an 1 absolute majority the Liberals may 1 form a GoverninAt with Labour sup- 1 port, but the life of such a Govern- 1 nient would probably bo short.—(Syd- £ ney "Sun” cable.) 1