BRITISH ELECTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22713, 28 October 1935, Page 9

BRITISH ELECTIONS

CAMPAIGN IN FULL SWING MR BALDWIN ON ARMAMENTS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, October 26. (Received Oct. 27, at 10 p.m.) The general election campaign is now in full swing. A total of 1275 candidates are already in the field for 015 scats. The parties are as follows: Conservatives 498 Liberal Nationalists .. .. 42 National Labour .. . • 20 National 5 Labour 530 Liberals 150 Independent Labour .. .. 30 Sir Cunliffe Lister is not contesting Hendon. He is expected to go to the House of Lords. The Daily Express says that competent observers predict that the Government will secure a majority of at least 140, compared with 405 iu the Parliament which ended on Friday. It is anticipated that the Socialists will win seats in the industrial areas, but the Government is expected to hold the agricultural districts. The Prime Minister (Mr Stanley Baldwin) opened his election campaign when he broadcast from Chequers the first of 12 broadcasts from party leaders. He emphasised that the Government’s main objective was peace throughout the world, and he recalled the League’s difficulties in trying a new path, which was difficult and even dangerous. He added that the severest sanctions would lead inevitably to a blockade and bring in non-League members. Accordingly he would not agree to Great Britain entering a blockade unless he knew the attitude of the United States. “ The brunt of any trouble in the event of the application of a blockade,” he said, “must at first fall on the British Navy, possibly alone if we are unfortunate. Consequently we must modernise it, especially as we possess only three post-war capital ships. The remainder belong to a time before aerial attack had to be considered. Moreover, many of our cruisers are obsolete.” He did not want huge forces, but the best obtainable for the safety of their men. He warned his hearers that the Government’s opponents would increasingly exaggerate the expenditure on and size of armaments, but it would be all guesswork, as the question was still being examined. Mr Baldwin added that the strengthening of the nation’s defences, which was non-aggressive, would not divert the Government from a programme of improving conditions of living for the people. He emphasised that the Government had restored the confidence which the Labour policy would destroy. GOVERNMENT MANIFESTO A COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT PAST PERFORMANCE AND INTENTIONS LONDON, October 26. (Received Oct. 27, at 10 p.m.) The National Government election manifesto, signed by Mr Baldwin for the Conservatives, Mr Ramsay MacDonald for the National Labour Party, and Sir John Simon for the Liberal Nationals, states that the Government’s foreign policy will retain the League as its keystone.- Aiming at settled peace throughout tiic world it will continue its present policy in the dispute between Italy and Abyssinia, not taking isolated action but prepare to participate in collective action and also to endeavour to secure further discussions aiming at a just settlement acceptable to the disputants and to the League. Turning to the necessity for increasing defences, the manifesto says that the programme will not be aggressive, but will be strictly confined to making Britain and the Empire safe, and fulfilling obligations to the League. Meanwhile the Government will continue its efforts to secure the limitation of armaments. Referring to Imperial policy it says it is intended further to promote the exchange of goods between Britain and her Imperial partners, believing that any increase in their prosperity will always be reflected in British trade and employment. Meanwhile special sympathetic consideration will be given to the extension of the colonies’ markets throughout the world. The Government believes that opinion overseas is moving in the right direction regarding the removal of barriers to international trade, pending which it will endeavour to continue the reduction by bilateral commercial treaties. Referring to agriculture, the manifesto poin.s out that farmers are now receiving prices 15 per cent, above those of 1933. Workers are obtaining the highest wages for 10 years, and the housewife is able to buy more food for 19s than for 20s when the Government took office. The Government's policy will remain one of expanding the home market and enabling the expansion of production and new careers on the land. Regarding unemployment the manifesto points out that there are more employed in Britain than ever and it instances the benefit of a cheap money policy, enabling a phenomenal growth in building with a wide field of employment. It is also probable that the improvement in the home trade has not yet reached its limit. Nevei’theless, the Government is constantly working various plans for the initiation of enterprises by State credit and other resources, such as the Queen Mary, coal hydrogenation, and the London transport scheme, costing between £30,000,000 and £40,000,000. It will announce others as they mature. The manifesto promises to examine the means test and other disabilities and recalls that the commissioners dealing with distressed areas have already exceeded the £2,000,000 placed at their disposal. Finances will not be permitted to eliminate any practical scheme. Referring to coal, the manifesto undertakes to improve selling arrangements, to unify mining royalties and to appoint a commission to examine methods ensuring safety in mines. Referring to social reforms the manifesto points out that 1,000,000 houses have been built in four years and 420,000 slum dwellers rehoused. Two hundred thousand are being transferred to new homes yearly. The' Government intends to extend its contributory pensioiio scheme to benefit shopkeepers and the “ black-coateds,” to raise the school leaving age to 15 willi exemptions for children able to secure employment, to extend child welfare and provide nursery schools and physical training, improve scholarships and modernise technical | education.