ELECTION PORTENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18556, 14 November 1923, Page 8

ELECTION PORTENTS.

There is little room now to doubt that the meeting this week of the British Parliament will be the brief prelude to a dissolution. The country will be asked to give its verdict on the fiscal policy announced by Mr. Baldwin. This confident anticipation has provoked an outburst of comment and prophecy in the London press which provides valuable indications of the trend of political feeling. . It is evident, in the first place, that the Prime Minister's party approves his policy. It is rightly claimed that he displays courage in accepting this test when he might have remained in officeyears longer with an assured majority, and no risk until the end of a normal term. It is evident also that he has good prospects of strengthening his attack by the enlistment of two old campaigners in Lord Birkenhead and Mr. Austen Chamberlain. The next party indication is that afforded by the Daily Chronicle, which predicts a Liberal reunion, and indulges in a personal attack on the Prime Minister. If, as is quite possible, it voices truly the mind of the Liberal Free Traders, their feelings can easily bo read. The voice of the Daily Chronicle expresses .anger struggling to conceal apprehension. It complains that a great question is to be put to the test before the country has had time to consider it. The great question, as a political issue, is more than half a century old. Mr. Baldwin's real offence is probably that he is not allowing Liberal reunion time to be consummated. The Labour Party is expressive and down-right in explaining its position. It will oppose Protection and Imperial Preference, but will not stand on the Free Trade platform as the logical alternative. It finds no panacea in the open market. Nationalisation of mines and railways, a capital levy to meet the interest on the National Debt, and the restoration of wages to the level of several years ago— are the remedies it will suggest for trade depression and unemployment. Its policy includes " revision of the Peace Treaty, fair play for Germany and fair dealing with Russia." It does not lack aggressiveness. The portents indicate a speedy dissolution, and a brief, bitter, vigorous campaign for a December election. Following so closely on the Imperial Conference, bearing so directly on jtg business, • this development in British politics will be watched with unusual interest by the whole Empire.