BRITISH POLITICS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 23 November 1922, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

m LLOYD GLOME ON tHE ] ELECrIONS COMMENT ON MINORITY GOVERN - ) MENT ' (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Gable Association.) ; LONDON, Nov. 2J. The Australian Press Association sc--1 cured for exclusive publication in Atretralia and New Zealand an article by I Mr Lloyd George reviewing the elocutions. The ex-Premier premises the article by stating that- it is the duty of every patriotic citizen, in view of the difficulties with which the country is ; coo fronted, to assist the Government of tile day by every means at his disposed. T'lie article proceeds ; The CojlSCJ'vdliVca succeeded in obtaining the return of a 'majority of their members, but a notI able feature of the elections is the re- ! turn of a decisive majority of members by a very infinite minority of electors. I Tin? Prime Minister claimed that he ■ had received a vote of confidence from the people of the country, but out ut a ’total poll of 15.000,000 his candidates sc- , cured less than 6,000,000, which means i that iwo-fiftha voted confidence in the, j administration, while three-fifths voted j confidence in other leaders or groups. 1 The result could hardly be claimed as a vote of lonfidence. It might bo argued that ihe National Liberals, having promised to co-operate with the Government, their voles ought not to be placed on the debit side.

Mr Lloyd George quotes ai length the conditions and measures of support lain down by him that the National Liberals promise's Id the Government, ami claims that such support cannot lie claimed, in totalling the votes recorded for the Gov 'eminent. He stresses the fad that only 40 per cent, of the electorate voted for the Government, because it is likely to have a profound effect upon the lifetime of this Parliament. It is the first time since the 'Reform Act was passed that a pronounced minority succeeded in securing control of Parliament and Government. It would ■bo idle to pretend that this does not weaken the moral authority of the Government. Therefore, if the Government is wise it will bear the fact in mind and not commit- itself to policies which are a challenge to (lie 9,000,000 who represent (he minority. A curious working of our electoral system is found in the under representation of other - parties in the present Parliament. Therefore, unless representative government is to be discredited altogether the present Parliament ought at once to devote its mind to direct energies to the discovery of a method to avert the danger which undoubtedly arises from the working of the present system. We, arc faced with a new dan ger to constitutional government, _if we arc to be governed by a- succession of administrations who rule in spite of a protest by the majority. The authority of the Government will be weakened beyond repair. Referring to the Labour Party, Mr Lloyd George said they secured many seats by a. minority of votes, but conditions * were in many respects against them. Tbeir funds were exhausted by prolonged unemployment. The trade union movement is passing through an ebb tide of prosperity, both in funds and members. Moreover, labour ha* been committed by visionaries to_ rash experiments which' handicapped it severely in the election. Yet their votes readied the gigantic aggregate of 4,500,000. Whatever Labour’s difficulties in the late election they are not comparable with those under which Liberalism fought the campaign. It was divided by internecine conflicts. As soon as Coalition broke it was clearly ordained that the Coalition Ldierals should be crushed out. This lamentable decision lost at least 40 Liberal seats and gave the Conservatives a- majority. Thus no real fight was put up for Liberal principles on either side. Nevertheless electorally Liberalism is the balancing power and if it casts its united strength against either reaction or reversion its influence must be decisive. If a sincere desire is manifested to substitute co-opera-tion for conflict my colleagues and I will welcome it. The election will have taught many in the Labour Party that violent extravagant proposals impede progress. If the limits are not too narrowly drawn this Parliament may witness an effective association of men of .many parties genuinely concerned for the advancement of mankind along paths of peace and progress. The National Liberals at the election, unlike other great parties, inherited no political machinery and no machinery could be built up in three weeks; yet in spite ot these adverse, even paralysing conditions, our numbers are fcwu..; ( l ore c I the Independent Liberals in 1918.

LABOUR PARTY LONDON, Nov. 21. Mr dynes was appointed deputyleader of the Labour Parly and Mr Henderson chief whip, pending his finding a seat. The 'Voting for the. leadership resulied-Macdonald 01; dynes 56. When the House, reassembled for swearing in Mr .Ramsay Macdonald took his seat in the front Opposition bench.

Mr Lloyd George is suffering from a cold and Ims not yet attended the House.

The Labour Parly in a communique states that “being by far ttie strongest Opposition party we have entered a claim for recognition as (he official Opposition with all rights ami privileges.'’ LON'DON, Nov. 22

Mr Healy. Sinn Fein Commoner for Tyronne, who is at present interned on a'ship in,/Belfast Lough, announces that he does not intend to take his seat, in (he House of (Timmons even if freed. Sir Donald MacLcan was gAcn a. luncheon by the National Liberal Club. He said that what all welcomed nu.st was Hie downfall of the Coalition. Public and private life was all the cleaner and hriebter for it. There was not a foreign office in the world iha ( was not clad°the Coalition had gone. It was a good thing for public life (hat to-day the Government had a. working majority. nnnrmrr r - ■ * m ran