MR BALDWIN RESIGNING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 157, 4 June 1929, Page 6

MR BALDWIN RESIGNING.

A cablegram from London, published to-day, states that Mr' Baldwin has decided to hand in his party’s resignation. This action has not been taken without deep consideration of the position which has arisen. It seemed a foregone conclusion that the Liberals would have united with Labour to defeat the Conservative Party, so that it' did not benefit the Conservatives remaining in power any longer than was absolutely necessary. To Mr Ramsay MacDonald will again fall the honour of becoming Prime Minister of England and one paper, the Daily Express, has already forecast his Minister. How long- his party will remain in office seems to depend entirely on the legislation it puts forward. The Labour leader is pledged to Socialistic measures, such as the nationalisation of the railways and transport generally; to the nationalisation of banking and a number of trading enterprisesto the repeal of the Trades Union Act passed by the Conservative Government for the pi’evention of a general strike; to a more or less complete policy of disai-mament; to the restoration of trade and diplomatic relationships with Russia; to the repeal of the safeguarding duties, and other measures, in which he is likely to meet with determined opposition from both Unionists and Liberals. As he will not be in the position he occupied in 1924, picturesquely spoken of by his then Liberal supporters as “governing in custody,” he may endeavour to force his measures through the Commons by exhausting the patience of the Opposition parties, some of whom he may expect to win over from the Liberal section, by promises of immunity from opposition at the next election with the actual support of his party. He may, in the alternative, decide to apply to His Majesty for a dissolution, in the hope that, with a further appeal to the constituencies, Labour would secure an independent majority. The position is certainly an interesting one.