POLITICS IN BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18348, 14 March 1923, Page 10

POLITICS IN BRITAIN.

THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

LABOUR PARTY'S STRENGTH.

Changes in the, political situation in Great Britain were referred to yesterday by the Hon. A. M. Myers. He said the re-emergence of the Conservative Parly, under the leadership of Mr. Bonar Law, meant the re-establishment of that free interplay of two well-defined schools of political thought and action which had for more than a century* been the secret of sane Government and sustained political progress in England. Mr. Lloyd George's career was not ended. He was still very popular in England, and would ye'e play a leading part in the affairs of the Empire and of the world. The new House of Commons, by the state of parties and the return of certain public figures and the eclipse of others, was extraordinarily interesting. The Labour Party, stronger than before, contained some exceedingly able men, and also some extremists. There had been confident talk about a reunion of the Asquiithian and Lloyd George Liberals, but the difficulty in the way was the presence of two dominating personalities in Mr. Asquith and Mr. Lloyd George. Mr. Ramsay Macdonald was proving a skilful leader, and his tactics of attrition were hound to meet with a good measure of success. In Ireland, order was still far from being established, yet an optimistic note should be. the one to sound. Lawlessness was surely exhausting itself, a growing feeling of friendship toward Great Britain was manifest, and the effect of the settlement upon world opinion had been wholly beneficial. Mr. Myers added that unemployment was still rife in Great Britain, and at present the Government was spending over £100.000,000 a year in relief.