BRITISH POLITICS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16348, 4 February 1924, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE RETRENCHMENT ANE. THE AGRICULTURAL PROBLEM. iElec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn,; I /Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.! LONDON, Feb. 2. Ben Tillett, in the,Morning Post, describes the new Government as "the best Conservative Government we have had for seventy years. If you scratch the ordinary Socialist you will find the Conservative with brains." The Daily Express lobbyist says: Mr. Snow-den is making a wide financial survey with tho object not only of reducing breakfast table duties, "but of providing for certain social reform. Proposals arc being considered entailing a total cut in the expenditure of twenty-five millions, but this is not .sufficient for Mr. Snowden's aims. Accordingly it is probable that tho super tax and-death duties will not be reduced at present. The year's surplus will probably amount to fifteen millions, which 'must be applied to the reduction of the debt. It is understood that Mr. Snowdcn will order a reduction in the estimates of every department except education. There is reason to believe that the War Office expenditure will be reduced by live millions, and the Admiralty's by over five and a-hulf millions. Mr. Snowden's order is u continuation of staff reductions begun four years ago. Mr. MacDonald had a conference with agricultural interests. He stated that, while the Governriicnt had ruled out protection or subsidies of any kind suggested hitherto, it, was anxious to tackle the problem, which j must be treated £3 a town, as well as a country problem. Mr. Tom Shaw, who is co-operating with Mr. Wheatlcy, has summoned a conference for next week of workers and employers to consider the supply of labor for housing. Cabinet is summoned to meat on Monday, when reports of committees on special subjects will be considered with a view to the announcement of the Government policy at the opening of Parliament. Mr. MacDonald, after attending the Pilgrims' dinner, motored to Chequers for the week-end. The MacDonald and the Clynos families will take possession of Nos. 10 and 1.1, Downing Street, next week. The by-election for the City of London, consequent on Mr. Banbury's election to the peerage, resulted: Bowater (Conservative) 12,962, 801 l (Liberal) 5525. Mr. Garvin, writing in /the Observer under the heading, "Can the Unionists awaken?" says: The prosent situation is not exactly honest for anyone. Wo are more than ever convinced that the present Parliament cannot last long. The. next fight will come before either of the older parties is ready. The framing of another policy, '.social, Imperial, and foreign, is a task which"cannot be done in a hurry. But the beginnings cannot be delayed. Tho Unionists' chief danger is their .slowness in realising that another election may come in five months.