NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1929. THE BRITISH ELECTIONS

Northern Advocate, 21 May 1929, Page 4

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY

TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1929. THE BRITISH ELECTIONS

Registered for transmission through the post as a newspaper.

The general elections in Britain take place on May 30. Nominations have closed, and the huge number of 1740 candidates have offered their services to the country. This is a record offering. The election has resolved itself into a. triangular contest between the dominant parties. The Conservatives have nominated 590 candidates, the Labour Party 572 and the Liberals 509. Communists and others whose particular designations are unknown number 09. At the moment, the eyes of the world are directed towards Britain, where the election campaign is in full swing. The outcome of the polling t is naturally arousing keen speculation, but nobody seems to have substantial ground for the prediction

of a runaway victory for any one of the parties. The conditions under which, the election is being waged are

unique in many ways, and, as a, consequence, render even more futile than usual the practice of forecasting the results of polling. Several millions of women who have been enfranchised since the last general election , will cast their votes for the first time. They probably have as well defined political ideas as their brothers and sisters who were long ago raised to the dignity of electors, but the .effect of their vote is an unknown quantity. Apart from the greatly increased voting strength of the electorate, much lias occurred during the life of the last Parliament to intensify party warfare. When the House of Commons met after the last general election, the Conservatives had a clear majority of 2.15 over all parties. Since then there have been (i 3 by-elections, which have had the effect of reducing that majority by 30. During one week in March last five by-elections were rendered necessary by the death of Conservative sitting members. Of the five contests the Conservatives lost three seats, two going to the Liberals and one to Labour. This succession of defeats, coupled with widely expressed dissatisfaction at the continued existence of unemployment and industrial stress, has produced a belief that the country is determined to have a new Government. That may or may not be. It is impossible to gauge accurately the volume of dissatisfaction, but the fact remains that Liberals and Labour regard the electors’ unrest as providing them with an opportunity to seize the reins of Government. Each of those parties is ostensibly convinced that to it the country will turn for succour. How far cither is justified in holding such a. belief remains to be seen. Labour and Liberals, as is the prerogative of the "outs” as compared with the "ins,” have made elaborate promises of an alluring nature. Labour lias emphasised' the need for disarmament and a "free breakfast table” as the best means of relieving the dis-. tress from which so large a proportion of the poorer people are suffering. The Liberals, however, have outdone Labour, for Mr Lloyd George has definitely promised to remove the causes of unemployment without costing the country a. penny. This promise Should surely move the electorate as a whole to return a Liberal Government, but it will probably be found that "Doubting Thomases” are still a force to be contended with. The Conservatives, relying upon a policy of endeavouring to restore stability in industry as the best means of overcoming difficulties, and knowing that the British people are not prone to be led away by the glitter which is not always gold, are probably justified in believing they will return with a majority, reduced though it may be.