BRITISH POLITICS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 29, 21 January 1929, Page 8

BRITISH POLITICS

COMING GENERAL ELECTION THRILLING BATTLE PREDICTED. FIRST SHOT FOR CONSERVATIVES. [United Press Association—By CableCopyright.) [Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) London, Jan. 19. Indications are that the coming General Election will be the most thrilling that has ever taken place in Britain. All parties are adopting the most up-to-date methods and all the resources of modern science. For example Mr Neville Chamberlain tonight addressed four huge meetings simultaneously. A total of 15,000 heard his speech, which Lord Stanley describes as the firing of the first shot in the Conservative election campaign. Mr Neville Chamberlain spoke at Liverpool. His speech was relayed by land-lines and loud-speakers to audiences in the important towns of Birkenhead, Southport and Widnes. He said that their task was not to win, but to hold the fort. Few Conservatives, however, hoped to hold the fort at its present strength. The Labourites and Liberals were determined to make a big breach. The Liberals were completely re organised and had plenty of money. PARTY ORGANISERS’ PROBLEM. Mr Lloyd George sent an emissary to the United States to follow the presidential election. He has since received that officer’s personal report on the methods of the great Ameriers and microphones, silent and talkie movies, slogans and choruses set to popular jazz tunes are utilised, besides unprecedented showers of leaf-lets and acres of poster and newspaper advertising. The British Broadcasting Company has just concluded arrangements for the first controversial debate on the dull but important topic of the Derating Bill. A Conservative speaker will open and a Labourite and a Liberal will follow. The Government nominee will have ten minutes in which to reply. The great problem giving party organisers a perpetual headache is how the 5,000,000 new women electors are likely to vote. If only they had an inkling they would know how to direct their plans, and what arguments were likely to convince them. Meantime candidates are warned to attend to their personal appearance, and to get impressive photographs taken, as there is an advantage in good looks.

“TIME STANLEY HAD A REST.’’

In happy humorous mood at a din. ner held recently at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London, in support of the appeal for £25,000 for the Princess Elizabeth Hostel of the Mothereraft Training Society, Mr J. H. Thomas, Labour M.P., turning to Mrs Stanley Baldwin, who’was sitting near him, said he would like to give her a cheery message in connection with the great event that is expected this year in the British political world. “I am quite sure,” he went on, “that if Mt» Baldwin then meets Mrs Thomas she will say, ‘Well, it is time Stanley had a rest.’ (Laughter). And Mrs Thomas will reply, ‘That is what Jim has been thinking for a long time.”’ (Laughter). “.The one think I hate to-day,” declared Mr Thomas later, “is this talk of class hatred and class prejudice. “Hear, hear.) I have seen sufficient of life to know that there are good and bad in all classes, and that there is no monopoly of either brains or virtue in any particular class.” (Hear, hear.)