ON JANUARY 8TH

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11702, 14 December 1923, Page 6

ON JANUARY BTH

CONSERVATIVES TO MEET NEW PARLIAMENT LABOUR HOPES TO FORM GOVERNMENT I LIBERALS REMAIN UNATTACHED The new House of Commons meets on January Bth. The Conservative Government retains office in the interim. It is now believed that the Labour Party will seize the first opportunity of turning out the Government and forming a Government itself. It may then carry on for a few months with Liberal support, or it may go to. the country at once on the Socialist programme. ‘Meanwhile endeavours' are being made to bring about an arrangement between the Liberals and the Conservatives, but so far without success.

TO MEET PARLIAMENT

“CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY.’’

CABINET'S DECISION. Keuter’a Telegram. LONDON, December 12. It is officially announced from Down—lrtg street that, after careful consideration of the constitutional precedents md their bearing upon the situation that has arb-en as the result of the geniral election, the Cabinet decided unvnimously that it is their constitutional duty to meet Parliament at the earliest possible moment. . Parliament will therefore assemble, is already provided, on January Bth. PROGRAMME FOR JANUARY EMPIRE MEASURES INCLUDED. Reuters Telegram. (Received December 13., 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, December 13. It is authoritatively stated that the programme with which the Government will meet Parliament will not include Mr Baldwin’s tariff proposals, but most probably the measures for Empire development. agreed upon at the Imperial Conference. Measures other than those of a protectionist character will be put in the forefront, e.g., the extension of trade credits,, improvement in communications, and preference in Imperial contracts. • ELECTION JANUARY? AT LABOUR PARTY’S CALL. LIBERALS EXPECTANT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 13 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, December 13. - The Central News Agency’s inquiries in Liberal circles show that many Liberals, including Mr Lloyd George and Sir John Simon* expect another dissolution in January. Their expectation is based on the belief that Labour will get Liberal support for their amendment to the Address-in-Reply, that the Government will thus be turned out, and that Labour will then put their programme in the King’s Speech and appeal to the country. A good many Liberals will think twice before installing Air Ramsay Macdonald in No. 10, Downing street, though other Liberals believe that if Labour is allowed to hold office for a few months it is certain to advance proposals on which its defeat at the polls would be inevitable. SEEKING AN ARRANGEMENT SECTION OF CONSERVATIVES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 13, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, December 13. Mr F. S r Banbury, M.Pr, is heading g movement in the Conservative Party advocating a working arrangement with the Liberals, by which the Government would abandon contentious legislation and devote themselves to reducing expenditure and taxation. If Mr Asquith refuses, then the Government should offer to support him if he is willing to form a Government, giving him a similar undertaking. “FOOLISH INVENTIONS’’ TALK OF LIBERAL ALLIANCE. Renter's Telegram. (Received December 13, 8 10 p.m.) LONDON, December 13. In reply to a correspondent-, Mr Asquith said: “There is no foundation for the foolish inventions that the Liberals seek an alliance with tho Conservatives.’ ’- MR BALDWIN’S INTERVIEWS ONLY COURTESY VISITS. Renter's Teleeram. LONDON, December 12. Air Stanley Baldwin’s interview with Mr H. H. Asquith was merely for the purpose of courteously communicating his decision to remain in office until Uie meeting of Parliament. There was no discussion, regarding policy. Mr Baldwin similarly interviewed Mr Ramsay Macdonald. MR ASQUITH’S OFFER. (Sydnev “Sim'* Cable.) LONDON, December 12. Air Asquith informed Mr Baldwin that personally he was ready to give any help he considered in the best interests of the country. OXFORD UNIVERBITY CONSERVATIVES ELECTED. Reuter’s Telegram. (Received December 13, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, December 13. Sir Charles Oman and Lord Hugh Cecil, Conservatives, were elected to represent Oxford University, with a majority of 240 over Professor Gilbert Murray, the Liberal candidate.

■Polling at last election. —Lord Cecil, 3185; Sir Charles Oman, 2170; Professor Murray, 1594.)

READY FOR OFFICE

WHEN OPPORTUNITY COMES. LABOUR’S DECISION. Australian and N.Z. - Cable Association. LONDON, December 12. The “Daily Alail” states that the first meeting of the national executive of the Labour Party decided to seize the first constitutional means of turning out the Government. The precise method is to be decided with a conference of the Parliamentary Labour Party on the eve of the meeting of Parliament. If the opportunity arises on the AddressJn-Reply, it will be seized. Otherwise an issue will be forced on the unemployment question. The executive believe# that Mr Macdonald will he invited to form a Government within three months, and has decided that it will assume office if the occasion arises, but it will not agree to any form of coalition. EMOLUMENTS OF OFFICE LABOUR WOULD ACCEPT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 13. 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, December 13. Certain Labour extremists propose that in the event of Labour taking office the members of the Government should sacrifice the emoluments of the office and exist on their Parliamentary allowance of £4OO per year. It is authoritatively announced that the Labour Party intends to take the emoluments and patronage of office as welt as the responsibilities, and meanwhile it will endeavour to obtain support for an increase in the salary of members of the House of Commons to £6OO a year.

LABOUR’S_ADVANCE SOVIET NOT DELIGHTED. REVOLUTION PREFERRED. PnblUbad in ~Th* Timas.” LONDON, December 12. The Riga correspondent of “The. Times" states that although the Soviet publicly hails the Labour Party’s success in the British elections, inner circles seem more frightened of a possible Labour Ministry than of a Government of Conservatives or Liberals, notwithstanding the willingness of Labour to establish relations with Moscow. They consider that the classconsciousness of British Labour is not sufficiently strong, and do not desire the Labour Party to attain power constitutionally instead of by revolution. CAMBLINC ON ELECTION LONDON CLERKS’ LOSSES. - ENORMOUS SUMS. (Sydney “Sun” Cable.) LONDON, December 12. The “Daily Mail” says that an election panic on the Stock Exchange is to-night’s “scare,” but the panic is not among investors, but among hundreds of impecunious clerks, who will be faced on Friday with the settlement of enormous losses made through rashly gambling on the return of the Government with a majority of not less than forty. It is thus estimated that the losses amount to hundreds of thousands. There is a movement to prohibit similar gambles in future.

THE “MORNINC PORT" BOUGHT RY CONSERVATIVES? (Sydney “Sun” Cable.) LONDON December 12. The “Daily Herald” states that the Conservative Party organisation has purchased the “Morning Post” at a price which will astonish those who are accustomed to handling newspaper property. The “Alorning Post” is the oldest of existing London daily newspapers, and dates from 1772. In 1795 it was 6old for £6OO to Peter and Daniel Stuart, who quickly raised its position by enlisting Sir James Mackintosh and the poet Coleridge in its service. Many of the lyrics of Moore and some of the noblest sonnets of Wordsworth were first published in the “Post.” In 1850 it was heavily in debt and was taken over by Messrs J. and T. B. Crompton, the paper manufacturers, who entrusted its management to Peter Borthwick, a Scotsman. Borthwick died' two years later, but his son, Algernon Borthwick, later Lord Glenesk, succeeded him, and under his management prosperity returned. Borthwick, who became solo proprietor in 1877, gave the “Post” a strong political colour as Conservative, Imperialist, and Protectionist. 4 In 1887 Borthwick was raised to the peerage as Lord Glenesk, and on the death in 1905 the proprietorship of the newspaper passed to his only surviving child, a daughter, who married the seventh Earl Bathurst. Last month it was reported that the “Yorkshire Post” group of newspapers were negotiating with Lady Bathurst for the purchase of the “Morning Post.”

FRANCE'S JVAR DEBTS WILL BRITAIN BE PAID?

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 13. 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, December 13. Air Ramsay Macdonald, replying to an interview in French papers, in which he said that Britain would ask for the

payment of the French war debt, says this is incorrect. ’ What he did say was that if there was to a general settlement Britain oould not go on paying her debt to America and allow France, which is in a better industrial condition than Britain, to disregard its obligations.