REAL TROUBLE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 21, 23 December 1938, Page 2

REAL TROUBLE.

CHAMBERLAIN POLICY. IN DOMESTIC AFFAIRS. LONDON, Dec. 15. The setbacks to Mr Chamberlain’s policy of appeasement have, so far, not severely shaken the British Government, but there are signs of trouble in domestic politics. The reactions of the Press and the public, on the whole, are that the nation does not forget its gratitude to Mr Chamberlain for saving peace and that he cannot be blamed for subsequent events in Europe, which have caused such rapid deterioratoin in the international situation. •

Moreover, Mr Anthony Eden’s criticisms fail to inspire any serious defections from the Government ranks and leave the Ministry still firmly in the saddle, though the uneasiness and confusion in the public mind regarding the future, coupled with a desire for. a new statement of foreign policy, are not in any way diminished. It is a different story', however, regarding agriculture, concerning which a storm has burst on the Government’s heads. The Milk Bill fiasco, in which the Government was forced to abandon a measure proposing the elimination of the small man, has been followed by a vigorous farmers’ campaign against the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Morrison). . Some newspapers which customarily loyally, support the Government, attacked Mr Morrison, who, although he says he is not resigning, may yet bo forced to do so.

Mr Morrison seemed likely to rise to high Cabinet rank until he became Minister of Agriculture. He now faces the prospect of coming to grief, like other's who found agriculture beyond them.

■ The latest storm has arisen as the result of Mr Morrison’s announcement in the House of Commons of £1 per acre subsidy to barley growers, which farmers regard as inadequate. Later, when he attempted to address 3000 farmers at Lincoln, police had to guard him at the meeting, amid shouts, boos and whistles.

A more significant happening was the passing of a vote of no confidence in the Government'and refusal to support National Government candidates at the next election, unless the Government passed legislation putting agriculture on a firm footing. Mr Morrison found it difficult to’ utter two consecutive sentences. ..He said to, one heckler: “You aren’t; going to blame me for the weather.” The heckler replied: “It’s about the only thing we can’t blame you for.”

-Farmers swarmed round, Mr Morrison afterwards, demanding help for potatoes, barley, and other products.