BRITISH ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22712, 26 October 1935, Page 14

BRITISH ELECTIONS

THE PLATFORM CAMPAIGN BEGINNING ON MONDAY (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, October 24. Now that the plans for a general election on November 14 have been finally approved there are signs of great political activity throughout the country, and the platform campaign will begin in earnest on Monday next. Government candidates are already in the field for 567 of the 615 seats in the House of Commons. The National candidates include: Conservative 494, Liberal National 40, National Labour 20, National 3. Of the above candidates 454 are members of the present House, of whom 406 are Conservatives. Fifty-six members of Parliament who were members of the Government parties are retiring at the election, 52 being Conservatives. The Labour Opposition will be represented at the elections by 560 candidates, if those already chosen are nominated. . The Liberal Opposition has prepared a full programme of meetings, which will begin on Monday, but the number of probable Liberal candidates is not so far revealed. Broadcast speeches will be delivered by the leading members of all the parties. A LIBERAL MANIFESTO LONDON, October 24. An official Liberal election manifesto to the nation declares: “This is no time to hold a general election, which is unnecessary, because all parties support the Government’s action at Geneva. Upon the success or failure of the League in its efforts to penalise aggression depends the British future policy as regards foreign affairs and armament. This, therefore, is precisely the moment when the nation ought not to be asked to give a mandate for the next five years on these matters. The true path to security lies through strengthening the League and international disarmament. It is the duty of the voters to elect a House of Commons that will examine with the utmost care the demands for increased expenditure on armaments and will insist on the strictest control of their manufacture and sale and the elimination of private profit.” MR LLOYD GEORGE'S PLANS LONDON, October 25. (Received Oct. 25, at 10 p.m.) It is understood that Mr Lloyd George does not intend to run his own candidates at the election, but actively to support those who answer in the affirmative the questionnaire of the Council of Action. This asks; / 1. Do you wholeheartedly support the policy of the Council of Action, set out in its official statement “ Peace and Reconstruction,” and do you pledge if returned to insist upon the policy being implemented by whatever Government takes office? 2. Will you, to whatever party you belong, join an interparty group of members similarly pledged to co-operate in bringing pressure to bear on the Government to implement that policy? 3. Do you pledge on all occasions to support a vote for this policy, even should the Government fail or refuse to carry it out? LABOUR’S FIGHTING FUND LONDON, October 25. (Received Oct. 25, at 9 p.m.) The Labour ‘Party has opened a two million shilling fund to fight the general election.