“COMPLETE FAILURE”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17410, 7 November 1930, Page 7

“COMPLETE FAILURE”

BRITISH GOVERNMENT SIR J. SIMON’S ATTACK LIBERAL PARTY CRISIS (British Officiul Wireless.) Roc. 10 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 6. A letter was written by Sir John Simon to Mr. Lloyd George 10 days ago. and is published to-day, in which ho stated his disinclination to support a Government which he considers has proved “a complete failure in practically all departments.” .Mo also ex presses his decided opposition to tho Government’s proposal to revise the present trade union law. Sir John Simon voted against the Government last night. The principal points of Sir .Tolin Simon’s letter are as follows; “Labor has been in office for 17 months and proved a complete failure in practically all departments. Your well-meant efforts to help it do something,effective ha ve produced no result -except to expose the Liberals to the reproach that they arc keeping friend ly contact with the Socialists in an effort to save, their own skins. •

“If. therefore, the question avisos regarding confidence in the Government. I shall feel obliged to vote in a way to show that I, at any rate, have no confidence in it. Having thought Iho situation carefully over, I hold that the plain course is best, and tactics must take care of them selves.” FAR-REAQHI NO EFFECT Everywhere it is l agreed that Sir Jofin Simon’s letter is an event of political importance, damaging tho prestige of both the Lloyd Georgians and the Government. The effect possibly will bo even greater in the country than in Parliamentary circles.

The position at present is that 48 Liberal members of the House of Commons are anxious to keep Labor in office for reasons connected with party finance in the hope of ...wringing from Labor an electoral pleasure favoring party prospects in the constituencies, The remaining 10, including Sir John Simon and Sir Robert Hutchinson, are not disposed to afford the Laborites the least support, but are prepared to act regardless of consequences.

Sir John Simon’s letter may cause further defections, thus rendering the, position of the Government in critical divisions most precarious, especially if the Leftists are restless, but politicians express the opinion that by avoiding ultra-contentious measures, and hiding the Imperial and Indian conferences, the Government may hang on till spring. ■ u Labor headquarters are appealing for a special election fund. They state that though no immediate election is anticipated, they. must in no wise neglect precautions against a sudden crisis. The Liberals arc also initialiiig a new fund.