HOME POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18686, 16 October 1922, Page 5

HOME POLITICS

EARLY ELECTION ANTICIPATED COALITION AND CONSERVATIVES. DANGER OF A SPLIT. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, October 13. The political situation is developing in an amazing manner, everybody is hanging on to the coming speeches by Mr Lloyd George and Mr Chamberlain, the purport of which nobody knows. The only apparent certainty is the proximity of the" General Election. There are various estimates of its date, a’ l conjectural. One usually well-informed writer suggests that Mr Lloyd George, who is absolutely arbiter in the matter, will effect a dramatic couji, and will force the election during the first week of November. It is significant that his closest confidants make no sign of knowledge, and it is believed that he has not taken into confidence anyone except a few selected members of the Cabinet.

Some Conservatives advocate a wholesale stampede from the Coalition, even mentioning Lord Derby’s name as their leader. Lord Derby does not deny or affirm the statements in this connection.

Coalition supporters, notably the Daily Chronicle, argue that, if the Conservatives fight the Coalition Liberals at tho elections, Labour will possibly win 200 or 250 seats. The Chronicle declares that the Labourites are already counting on the possibility of a split, instancing the principal organiser’s declaration in a recent speech that the Labourites would possibly be charged with the formation of a Government. —A. and N.Z. Cable. LONDON, October 12. Dame Lloyd George, in supporting the Coalition candidate at Leytonstone (Essex), said that the General Election could not be very far away, although she could not say exactly when it would come. Recently, when the issues of peace and war were in the balance, unscrupulous speakers and scribblers had had their fling. They played a most contemptible part. They had shown no consideration for those engaged in preventing the fires of Smyrna from crossing into Europe, and in keeping tho freedom of the Straits. The British Government and the Allies had succeeded in inducing moderation in the Turkish demands. During the crisis Ministers were unable to indulge in domestic controversies, but when Mr Lloyd George spoke on Saturday his sunporters -would not be disaonointed in his reply.—A. and N.Z. Cable.