ATTITUDE OF PARTIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20965, 31 August 1931, Page 9

ATTITUDE OF PARTIES.

SUPPORT FOR MR. BALDWIN. LABOUR IN OPPOSITION. SERIES OF RESOLUTIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received August 30. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. August 29. Meetings of the three political parties were hold to-day. The situation arising from the formation of the National Government was discussed at a meeting of Conservative peers, members of Parliament and candidates. Lord Hailsham presided and Mr. Baldwin gave an address.

The following resolution was passed unanimously: "This meeting supports Mr. Baldwin in his decision to take part in the formation of a National Government to deal with the present financial emergency."

Mr. Baldwin explained the reasons which caused him to tako part in the formation of the Government, which he described as co-operation by individuals in the different, parties, who had joined together temporarily for the purpose of passing legislation necessary to effect economies and to balance the Budget.

When the economies had been carried and the Budget balanced they would part company for a straight fight in the general election. At the Liberal meeting the Marquess of Reading presided. A resolution was passed supporting the action of the Liberal leaders in joining the National Ministrv.

The chairman, after explaining the serious nature of the crisis, and stating that Mr. Lloyd George was in complete accord with the action of the Liberals in supporting the new Government, referred to the sacrifices which the country would be called upon to face. He said one thing certain was that the members of the Government would never be parties to, and would not be asked to be parties to, any scheme which would mean merely economising at the expense of the poor. The meeting was also addressed by Viscount Grey.

The meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party passed a resolution constituting itself the official Oppositiop. Mr. Henderson was elected chairman in succession to Mr. Mac Donald, and Mr. J. R. Clynes and Mr. William Graham were elected deputy-cliairmen.

The meeting was attended by all tho Ministers in tho late Labour Cabinet except Mr. Mac Donald, who had already arranged to go to Lossiemouth before the meeting was summoned. Lord Sankey, one of the Labour members of tho new Cabinet, addressed tho meeting in support of the National Government. Mr. Mac Donald refused to discuss the Labour meeting. He said his only comment was that tho manifesto of the Trades Union Congress was of no assistance in dispelling the crisis.

CONVERSION OF LOANS. EXAMPLE OF AUSTRALIA. FORMER MINISTER'S PROPOSAL. (Received August 30, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, August 29. At the meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party a letter was read from Mr. F. W. Pethick-Lawrence, who was Financial Secretary to the Treasury in the late Government. In his letter Mr. Fethick-Lawrenco said:—"lt is unthinkable that wo should be compelled to balance the Budget at. the behest of foreign Governments and banks. Britain's position is far too strong to make that necessary, oven in such a national emergency."

Mr. Pethick-Lawrenco asked whether in view of the Australian debt conversion of a far "more drastic kind, it was not possible in the national emergency to effect a large voluntary conversion at some slight sacrifice by the banks and big financial houses.

ME. SNOWDEN RETIRING NOT TO SEEK RE-ELECTION. DECISION MUCH REGRETTED. LONDON, August 28. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Philip Snowden, in confirming the report of his retirement in a short statement, said: "I intimated to Mr. Mac Donald in April my intention to retire after the Budget, and when the large conversion had been carried out. " However, when tho international crisis arose, 1 felt it my duty to remain in office until the difficulties were past. My decision, therefore, is not connected with recent events."

The decision of Mr. Snowden to retire from Parliament at the next general election is regretted on personal grounds by members of all political parties. For years past members of both Houses of Parliament have admired the extraordinary courage and determination with which Mr. Snowden, both in office and in opposition, devoted himself to his duties in spite of constant physical disability and frequent illness. It constantly seemed that ho kept himself going by the exercise of immense will power. The strain upon him has been even more marked since his recent severe operation. In a letter to his constituents Mr. Snowden says: "Although I have had a remarkable recovery I am compelled, at the age of 67, to realise that I cannot expect to be able to coritinuo the strenuous life I have lived for the last 40 years. I must seek rest from the arduous work of the House of Commons, with its long hours and late sittings."

Mr. Philip Snowdcn was born in 1864. lie joined the Independent Labour Party in 1894 and worked on local government bodies until 1906, when he became Labour M.P. for Blackburn and held the seat 'until 1918. Ho was elected for the Colne Valley in 1922, 1923 and 1924. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer in both the Labour Cabinets. From 1898 to 1922 he was a member of the National Council of the 1.L.P., but he resigned his membership a few years ago. Many important works on social and economic questions have been written by him. ' DOMINIONS SECRETARY. British Wireless. RUGBY, August 28. It is understood that the Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr. J. H. Thomas, will altend a meeting of the executive of the Derby branch of the Labour Party next week and explain his decision- to join the new Government.