INTEREST IN ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18838, 13 October 1924, Page 7

INTEREST IN ELECTION.

OPEN ING OF CAMPAIGN.

ACTIVITIES QF THE PARTIES.

("deceived* 5.5 JL and N.Z. —Router. LONDON. Oct, 10. The Royal proclamation dissolving Parlament was signed by King Georga at a Frivy Council meeting this afternoon. Writs for the election have been issued | to the constituencies. Tfubllo interest in the contest promises Vo be very keen. The Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, was cheered at Downing Street, aa ware the Conservative and Liberal leaders at their respective headquarters. The crowd at Downing Street, observing the arrival of a furniture van, expected to witness tha removal of the Prime Minister's furniture. Instead the van brought a new Jacobean snite for the drawiug-roora section. The crowd cheered Mr. Mac Donald as he departed to see the King. There were cries of "Good for you, sir!" Let's fight. Stick it, Mac!" The Prime Minister's interview with the King lasted an hour. Mr. Mac Donald, on his return, said: "I am sorry that events have turned out as they have done, but everyone knows that the situation has been forced on U3. I should have been glad if Labour had been allowed to carry on its policy, which I maintain has been honest politics for the fljcecaotion of the common weal." Party Manifestos ffld Slogans. Mr, John Wheatley, Minister for Health, speaking at Carlisle, said it was impossible for Labour to lose the election even If it tried. The Labour Party has completed the draft of its election manifesto. The Conservative manifesto will probably be issued to-day in a lengthy form. Mi-. Stanley Baldwin, Leader of the Conservatives, sent messages to 2000 ! cinema theatres. He emphasised the need for a stable Government which would k maintain the country's honour unsullied at home and abroad, and work unceasingly for the restoration cf the prosperity and happiness of all classes. Mr. Baldwin's address to his own constituents at Bewdley will deal with' the Russian treaty, the Campbell case, and j the failure of the Government to abato j unemployment. It will also contain an j outline of the Conservative policy on j housing, agriculture, trade, education, etc. The Liberals have adopted the slogan ''Peace, security, and progress." Already it is obvious that wireless is to bo largely us?d to make jap for the shortness of time available for ths election campaign. There will be a plague of loud speakers for the dissemination of candidates' views. The preference issue is being taken up by the Conservatives' Empire Development branch, to which 60 men from the Dominions have offered their services. Stampeda to Constituencies. J

With the exception of the party leaders, there has been a stampede of members to their constituencies to make the most of the whinftvind campaign. The outstanding incident of the moment is a report that secret anti-Socialist negotiations are going on aiming at direct fights, so that where a Liberal has the best chance a Conservative will not stand, fcnd vice-versa. The most hopeful view is taken of the negotiations. If they succeed, the chances of three Ministerialists—Messrs. W. Leach, | Under-Secretary for Air, N. E. Buxton, for Agriculture, and F. 0. Roberts, Minister for Pensions—are not bright. Mr. Mac Donald sets out on Monday from Glasgow on a Scottish tour, after he will work southwards. The Labour Party's campaign was really opened by Mr. T. Henderson at Burnley Sunday evening.

The Prime Minister's son, Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, who is ien route to Australia, will contest the Bassettlaw (Notts) seat. Hia sister, Ishbel (hostess at No. 10, Downing Street), will probably ac.t "as his deputy. | The Prime Minister will have a straightout fight at Aberavon, where he is to be opposed by the Liberal, Captain Williams. Mr. Lloyd George will, for tho first time, have a Labour opponent. Three-cornered Contests Likely. The newspapers continue to strongly urge that three-cornered contests shall be avoided, especially in the 70 6eat,s which Labour won against the Conservatives and Liberals at the last election. The Morning Post, however, states that tho central Conservative and Liberal organisations do not intend to participate in any arrangement designed to avoid three-cornered fights. The question will be left to local party leaders. It adds that thocgh negotiations for unanimity have undoubtedly been mado in many places there are indications that a line of demarcation between Conservatism and Liberalism is being maintained elsewhere. Viscount Grey of FaJlodon, speaking at Sheffield, said ho did not feel any mora disposed to join the Conservatives now than ha had previously felt. It was time the Liberal Party had a chance. Sir John Simon, in a speech at Stirling, said: For myself, I will not abate one jot or tittle of my Liberalism. I utterly refuse to merge it into Tory reaction. We are going to fight on a positive policy." It is early to prognosticate tho result but the Morning Post says that Labour expects to gain 50 seats from the Liberals and to lose 20 to the Conservatives.