BRITISH POLITICS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15956, 18 October 1922, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

PROSPECTS OF EARLY ELECTION.

lElec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn, [Australian and N.Z Cable Association LONDON, Oct. 16.

The National Council of the Independent Labor Party passed a resolution welcoming the prospect of an immediate general election, and describing Mr. Lloyd George's Manchester speech as a puerile attempt to justify Coalition's ruinous home and foreign policies, to which it attributes tho present serious depression and ruin in Europe, declaring Mr. Lloyd George's defence of Coalition's mishandling- of the Near East situation as a travesty of the facts, and calling on people not to trust any leader of the old diplomacy, but to return a Labor majority pledged to reconstruct conditions at Homo and abroad on lines of co-operation for the benefit of all. Only by such new policies and outlook can the world be saved from further disaster.

WILL THE COALITION CONTINUE?

EVENTS MOVING RAPIDLY

SPECULATIONS AS TO THE . _..< FUTURE. iAustrallan and N.Z. Cable (Received October 18, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, October 16. Tlie newspapers are full of speculations regarding tho policital situation. Despito Mr. Lloyd George's announcements at Manchester events have moved rapidly during the weekend towards the "quick ending of the suspense. Mr Churchill gave a dinner party on Sunday. It was attended by Mr Lloyd George and Liberal members of the. Cabinet, and Mr Chamberlain, Karl Balfour, and Lord Birkenhead, who are definitely in favor of a continuation of the Coalition. It is reported that at the dinner attempts were made .to induce Mr Chamberlain to agree to rush tho elections as a coalition without any preliminary Unionist party meeting. It is understood that Mr Chamberlain declined; hence the summoning of tho Unionist members of tho House of Commons to tho Carlton Club gathering on Thursday, which political writers agree will be the deciding factor at the meeting. Mr Chamberlain is expected to,recommend that the Conftrvativo and Liberal wings shall go to the country as separate entities, but hold themselves ready to cooperate in Parliament after the election. The "Diehards," however, will " press tho meeting to decide that the Conservatives should'no longer uphold the coalition. A decision will be reached in tho shape of.a vote of .confidence in Mr Chamberlain, which the latter's friends believe will be carried at preliminary meetings of tho Unionist Ministers and Urfder-Secretaries to-day.. A largo majority supported Mr Chamberlain. On the other hand the Diehards claim that they have the support of many back benchers. If tho Carlton Club meeting votes against the continuance of the coalition, Mr Chamberlain and most of his colleagues will resign from tho Government. A powerful factor in the background is believed to be Jvir Bonai- Law's opposition to tho continuance of the coalition with Mr Lloyd nounces tho continuation of the .coalition, Mr Lloyd George is expected to hand over control to a purely Conservative Ministry, which will immediately face the electors. .

Leaders of all parties havo made many speaking engagements for the next fortnight. ' Mr Hewins lias given notice to move at tho Nationalist Unionist conference in. November that the coalition cease, and Conseravtive leaders appeal to the country for a majority,' to enable the hew Government to carry out tho following policy: Firstly, maintenance of tho entente with France; secondly, the adoption of a trade policy confirming tlie resolutions of the Imperial Conference of 1917 and 1918.

With a view to restoring trade, and reducing unemployment, Labor is planning to contest 420 seats. It cannot afford to waste money on hopeless; Conservative strongholds. A party official Jo-night said that Labor expected . to win 150 to 160 seats, and be strong enough to make it difficult for any Government to play fast* arid loose with problems. The party did not intend to declare its policy prior to the announcement of the dissolution, owing to the fear of having the thunder stolen.

SHORTEST STRUGGLE EVER HELD IN BRITAIN. SMALLEST HOIJSE FOR OVER, A CENTURY. (Australian and N.Z. cable Association.! (Received October 16, 12.30 p.m.) .',.-' LONDON, Oct, 17. . Tho .approaching general election will be tho shortest 2 >o .htical -struggle ever held in Britain, and will return the smallest House of Comiho.ng for oyer a century. The Representation of the People Act-of 1918 increased tho membership of the House, otf Commons to 707, but the establishment of the J?reei State reduces in Westminster to fifteen, representing Ukter exclusively,'and this reducesr the members of the House/bf Commons to 615. Under the Franchise Act, 1918, all,polls must be taken on the same day, and on the following day practically the whole), constitution of th© new House of .Commons will be known. Tho whole campaign between the dissolution arid the declaration of polls- will last three weeks. It is considered' that stable Government be impossible unless some party or group of parties commands at least 325 votes. The estimates in all parties expect labor to be the second largest group:

Mr Lloyd George speriks at Leeds, not Newcastle, on Saturday^.