THE BRITISH COALITION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 291, 6 November 1934, Page 6

THE BRITISH COALITION.

Fkom the speeches made by Mr Itamsay MacDonald, Mr Stanley Baldwin, and Sir John Simon at the luncheon of the National Labour Committee in Britain, a few days ago, it is evident that, however desirous Mr Winston Churchill, Lord Lloyd, and others of the Conservative Party may be of a split, the merger known as the National Government is likely to last for a long time yet. Each of the three speakers mentioned stood by the belief that the present method of Government must continue for the good of the country, and Mr Baldwin explicitly stated that he for one saw no prospect of a return to the party dog-figlit days in the near future. It is interesting to mark down this statement following the announcement made by a large group of Conservative members some months ago favouring the formation of a National Party consisting of all the sections in the National Government. It may become necessary for this step to be taken. , The personnel of the present Cabinet gives it a wide appeal, but organisation may become necessary to counteract the influence of the breakaway Conservatives, rejuvenated Liberalism, Mosley Fascism, and the other active opponents of the Government. A National Government may continue for many years without active propaganda on its own part, but there comes a time when the opposition becomes such that either a proper party establishment must be formed or the Coalition must break up and each section go its own way of organisation if those in the group are to survive. When it is realised that among the Conservatives there are many able men who may be thirsting for greater representation of the party in the Cabinet, backed up by the knowledge of the party’s strength in number of seats won, it will be recognised that there is danger of serious unrest within the ranks. Some political observers in England foresee trouble for the Conservatives arising* out of the activities of Mr Churchill and Lord Lloyd; from the latter source particularly on the score of the Indian reform problem. Developments in British politics will be closely followed within the next. few months.