DEPENDS ON LIBERALS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17588, 2 October 1931, Page 5

DEPENDS ON LIBERALS

BRITISH ELECTION ISSUE CLEAVAGE IN THE RANKS COXY EL'S A TIONB CONTINUING (British Official Wireless.) Hoc. noon. HUG BY, Oct. 1. Political conversations to decide whether or not a general election will be hold in the near future are still continuing, and it seems unlikely that a decision showing the final alignment of the parties can be announced yet awhile'. Broadly stated, the position at the moment is that the Prime Minister is greatly impressed by the desirability of treating national issues on a national, as distinct from a party basis, to see a government as far as possible representative of all parties, with a mandate from the country, and to employ any remedy which the trend of economical events may require. The Conservatives believe tariffs to be the remedy required, and are generally strongly in favor of early elections. The Liberal organisation, with Mr. Lloyd George, is against au immediate election, and is only prepared to agree to an objective examination by the present Government of tariffs, in as mitignited a form as possible as an emergency measure. A considerable section of the Parliamentary Liberal Party is reported, however, to go further than that, and to be willing to support the Prime Minister in any course lie may adopt. Sir Herbert Samuel to-day had a conversation on the Liberal attitude with the Prime Minister. Interest at the moment centres upon the extent and nature of the Liberal support which will be available for the Prime Minister in the event of a decision to hold an election iii the near future. This morning, Lord Reading, the Liberal Foreign Secretary, was received by the King. PREMIER TO MEET ELECTORS Later, following a. Privy Council at the Palace, Mr. Baldwin remained behind and had an audience with the King. This evening Sir Austen Chamberlain had an audience. It is understood that five Liberal members of the National Cabinet decided. to remain with the Government, despito Mr. Lloyd George’s advice to the contrary. The Prime Minister to-morrow will speak at a Labor delegate meeting at Scaharn Harbor, thus facing a body of his one-time supporters who a few weeks ago expressed by 40 votes to 39 disapproval of his action in leading the National G overn men t. It is considered probable that a formal announcement regarding the development. in the political field will be deferred until next week. The Prime Minister is due to leave % London tomorrow for Seahani. “The prospects of a national appeal by a Government representative of the three parties appear brighter,” says the Daily Telegraph’s political correspondent. “There are indications that Mr. MacDonald is carying all the members of Cabinet with him in favor of an early election. He refrained from making a definite statement in the House of Commons because negotiations were then actively progressing. It is understood that Mr. Lloyd George has modified his former opposition, and is now anxious to discover what limitations to arrangements the Government is willing to concede in return for official Liberal co-operation.” The News-Chronicle argues that an election is unnecessary, as the Government has a .sufficient majority to carry on. Even the tariff question should not present any obstacle. With good team work, Mr. MacDonald can get a “doctor’s mandate” from the present. Parliament.