BRITISH ELECTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22260, 7 November 1935, Page 13

BRITISH ELECTION

LIST OF CANDIDATES REVISED TOTAL 1345 19 CONSERVATIVE WOMEN ONLY TWO COMMUNISTS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright British Wireless RUGBY, Nov. 5

Nominations for the constituencies which return 613 of the 615 members of the House of Commons were received yesterday. The only constituency for which nominations have yet to be nfade is that of the English Combined Universities, which returns two members.

Revised figures show that 1345 candidates have been nominated. Of these Government supporters total 585, as follows : Conservatives . . . • • • 511 National Liberals .... 44 National Labour .... 19 Nationalists 9 Others 2

The Opposition parties in the aggregate have 760 candidates in the field for contested seats as follows: — Labour 552 Liberals 154 Independent Labour . . 16 Independents ...... 36 - Among the Labour members of the 1929 Parliament who lost their seats at the 1931 election, and who are now seeking re-election, are 11 members of the last Labour Cabinet.

Of the 19 Conservative women candidates 11 were members of the last Parliament. Only two Communists have been nominated, compared with 25 at the last election. Three supporters of the Douglas Social Credit plan have received nomination. Mr. Oliver Baldwin, son of the Prime Minister, is the Opposition Labour candidate for Paisley. The son of the former Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, and a son and daughter of Mr. Lloyd George, are seeking seats. The sons of Mr. Winston Churchill, Sir Stafford Cripps and Mr. J. H. Thomas also are in the contest, and one member of the late Parliament, Mr. Isaac Foot (Liberal) has three sons among the candidates. This evening Mr. Mac Donald broadr cast a National Labour address in support of the Government, and five other members of the Cabinet, as well as the principal Opposition leaders, spoke in varioug parts of the country. LABOUR'S POLICY LEAGUE AND DEFENCE OBLIGATIONS UNDER COVENANT British "Wireless RUGBY, Nov. 6 A broadcast election address was delivered last evening by Mr. Arthur Greenwood (Labour), who said the Government's full support of the policy of the League of Nations and the collective peace system had been too long delayed. The speaker denied that Britain's armed forces were inadequate for the purposes of national defence or insufficient to enable the country to take its part in developing a policy of collective security through the League. The Labour Party was, pledged to maintain the armed defences at the highest point of efficiency consistent with the country's needs and with its responsibilities with other League Powers under the Covenant. Beferring to the fall in the number of the unemployed, Mr. Greenwood said that the figures showed, over the whole period since the war, that industries had not expanded fast enough to absorb the normal increase of population. Regarding the suggestion that a financial crisis would be precipitated if Labour were returned to power, the speaker said: "We seek no crisis and if one should arise it would be due to interests which refuse to accept fully the expressed will of the people." The leader of the. Labour Party, Major C. R. Attlee, speaking at Birmingham, said the Government had failed to give a lead for peace and disarmament because the old Imperialists were still the strongest force. Labour speakers throughout the country are concentrating increasingly on the Government's domestic policy and laying stress on the prospect of higher food prices. They allege that the railway, road and other schemes now being announced are electioneering dodges. BRITAIN'S DEFENCES DECISION TO INCREASE LONDON, Nov. 5 "We are offering a five years'.contribution toward, the rebuilding of Britain," said Mr. Mac Donald, in a broadcast speech to-day. He promised to seek closer helpfulness with the Dominions and colonies, and to widen markets.

The Government's defence policy would be found in the eighth article of the Covenant of the League. The increase offered temptation for scaremongering but the prime object of the National Government Svould remain to ensure that the bad old days of hostile alliances and the building of rival armed camps would disappear for ever. "The nation cannot afford to return to party warfare amid the uncertainties and risks surrounding it," said Mr. Mac Donald. "It would be criminal in these times when aggressors kill before they declare war and leave wqmen, children and the aged defenceless," COUNCIL OF ACTION FAVOURED- CANDI DATES LONDON. Nov. 5 Altogether 954 candidates have replied to the Council of Action's questionnaire, of which 354 replies, include ing 180 from Labour candidates, are regarded as wholly satisfactory. These candidates will be commended to Liberal voters. Mr. Lloyd George, speaking at Pwllheli, claimed that the entire Liberal Party approved the policy of the Council of Action. Prominent bookmakers for the first time are participating in wagering oil ft Government majority, which hitherto has' been confined to unofficial Stock Exchange dealings. The market shows that transactions at present are based on a majority of 190 to 205, compared with earlier estimates of 160 to 180.