BRITISH POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19020, 16 November 1923, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN. SURVEY OF POSITION. EREETRADE FORCES CONSOLIDATING Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 14. The Daily Express in an election survey states.-" “The general opinion is that unless the Conservative Party receives some great stimulus it is certain to lose 20 seats, and it may lose 35, or even 40, when it will merely be the strongest of the three parties. In any case. Mr Baldwin will no longer be able to count cm the tacit assistance of the Lloyd George group. Several Tories from Loncashire will be pledged to only modified Ircetradc. Scotland has always been Ereetrade.” The Glasgow Herald, which wields great influence, has definitely adopted a Ereetrade policy for the present contest. It states that many Scottish Conservative seats are. most unsafe. The key to the position undoubtedly lies with Lancashire and Yorkshire. Short of a Ereetrade tidal wave like that of 1906, which is not anticipated, the Conservatives are not expected to lose more than 10 seats, out several Lancashire Conservatives, if returned, must be regarded as independents on the fiscal issue. The Conservatives’ trouble in the south-west and in the Midland counties is stated to be a lack of enthusiasm for the cause of home industrial protection, on the ground that while it may benefit the workers in the large industries It will send prices up against the small traders, pensioners, and labourers. Birmingham is the stronghold of the full Chamberlain programme, and in that locality there are likely to be few losses owing to the whittling down of full Imperial Preference. The Herald, in summing up, says; “None can ven:ure to predict for the Conservatives an independent working majority for Protection.” —A. and N.Z. Cable. CONSERVATIVE POLICY. LORD BIRKENHEAD’S OVERTURES. MR BALDWIN DECLINES TO BARGAIN. LONDON, November 15. (Received November 15, at 8.55 p.m.) The Alorning Post understands that Lord Birkenhead’s overtures to the Government have not been accepted. He will not be a platform protagonist though in Air Chamberlain’s _ days there was no more doughty champion. It is generally believed that he wanted certain definite promises regarding what would happen in the event of the Conservatives returning to power. The Prime Alinister refused to enter into anything that could be called a bargain. Air Austen Chamberlain in Quixotic mood chose to link his fortunes with Lord Birkenhead. the Daily Telegraph says that the Parliamentary Cabinet sat for two and ahalf hour's. It was engaged with wholly domestic questions and : with the broad principles upon which the party will base its appeal to the country. Air Baldwin will have a good deal to say concerning the protection of the home market and an extension of Imperial preference. He will also deal with the proposals for assistance to agricultural and the social side of the Ministry’s programme. Intense regret will be. felt by the Unionists that there is no longer any prospect of Air Austen Chamberlain and Lord Birkenhead rejoining the ministry at the present juncture. The Prime Minister undoubtedly desired to see them in the battle, and they were willing to enter the Government as ministers without portfolios, but no invitation to join the Ministry has reached them, and the negotiations are stated authoritatively to be at an end. There is reason to believe that a number of junior members of the Government are unwilling to let bygones be bvgones. The Daily Herald says that Air Austen Chamberlain refused to join the Cabinet unless Lord Birkenhead were included. A majority of members of the Cabinet refused to consent to serve as colleagues of Lord Birkenhead. The Executive of the National Association of Merchants and Alanufacturers has unanimously resolved to initiate a strenuous Ereetrade campaign. Sir Allan Smith (chairman of the industrial group in the House of Commons) has decided not to stand at the general election as the Conservative Association and his constituency refuse to allow nim freedom of action in regard to unemployment and protection. Air C. B. Fry, the cricketer, will contest the Banbury seat as a Liberal. —A. and N.Z. and Reuter Cables. UNIAIPORTANT DIVISIONS. LONDON, November 13. During the discussion in the House of Commons on the Vvorkmen’s Compensation Bill the Government’s majority fell to 11 and 20 respectively on Opposition amendments. This circumstance caused no excitement owing to the big exodus of members after the more important speeches. —Reuter. EREETRADE CAMPAIGN. AIR ASQUITH AS CRITIC. LONDON, November 2. Air Asquith’s speech at Dewsbury marked the opening of the Freetraders’ campaign. It sought to show that the industries which were suffering most severely were those which no tariff could possibly assist. Contesting the argument that increased imports were responsible for unemployment, Mr Asquith declared that during the last three years, in which unemployment enormously increased, the volume of imports diminished. He admitted that ATr Baldwin was correct in saying that conditions had changed, but he asserted that conditions bad changed in such a manner as to strengthen the case for Freefrade as a permanent fiscal policy. The obiect of bolding a general election, said Air Asquith, was to release the Tories from Air Bonar Law’s pledge. The latest developments seemed to indicate the evolution of a new political tvpe —namely, the crossbred Freetrader. Imperial preference which did not extend to food and raw material was nothing but a hollow straw. Britain had bed more than her usual share of the world’s trade for the last three years. The real cause of unemployment was that +he world’s total of trade bad shrunk. Europe was unable to buv on the old scale, and Brita's’s exports bad declined. “The remedy,” said Air Asouith, ’is t<> resto’-e the world’s productive capacity. That was ATr Baldwin’s own oninion until three months ago. M T e cannot make one inch of progress until Europe is economically settled. We shall he merely walkin'* in a Wind , alley if we undertake lopsided experiments in Protection.”