LABOR’S POOR PROSPECTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17606, 23 October 1931, Page 5

LABOR’S POOR PROSPECTS

THE BRITISH ELECTIONS SWING TO THE GOVERNMENT LEADERS’ SEATS IN DANGER (Elec. Tol. Copyright—United Press Assn.) LONDON, Oct. 22. Tho campaign continues to go favorably for the National Government. Liiborites admit that they are destined for the Opposition benches, but arc striving to secure the return of at least 200 members. Mr. Henderson is having a stiff' tight at Burnley against Rear-Admiral Campbell, V.C. Mr. Henderson’s speeches dwell on the work lie did as Foreign Secretary. lie reads tributes to himself from newspapers and from Foreign Ministers. Admiral Campbell is a good car didate from a national point of view. His ’chance depends entirely on how the 12.502 Liberal votes cast in 1929 will gti Tho Communist is unlikely to get them. If they are added to the 20.137 Conservative votes of 1929, Mr Henderson will be defeated. Mr. Thomas is having an uphill fight at Derby. In his speeches, ho is keeping Empire unity in the forefront. He said yesterday that lie did not think ,i tax on food necessary, as nearly c’cryflting was obtainable from the British Commonwealth partners. Sir Herbert Samuel is having a stiff fight at Darwen, which is one of a number of so-called “pendulum” seats, which may easily revert to the Conservatives, who refused to withdraw their strong candidate, Captain Alan Graham. Among other seats regarded in danger are Miss Ellen Wilkinson’s at' Middles* borough East, Miss Margaret Bondfield’s at Wallsend, and Dr. Marion Philips’ at Sunderland. The Standard’s diarist ventures his first forecast of the election, arguing that the past week has seen a great swing towards the Government.’ He suggests that the Conservatives are likely to return 340 strong, and National Liberals and Laborites 65, giving the National Government a inn joritv of 195.

Mr. MacDonald, at Tam worth, referring to tariffs, said: “I have never agreed with Mr. Baldwin politically, but I know him so well that if lie says, ‘I am not going to give you a detailed pledge, but you and I are going to work ont a gentleman’s bargain, written or unwritten,’ then I will take Mr. Baldwin’s word.” HOSTILITY TO MR. SNOWDEN LONDON, Sept. 17. One of the remarkable features of the present economic crisis in Britain is the bitter hostility of Labor towards Mr. Philip Snowden. The iron in the Cl ancellor which they applauded at The Hague is bow turned against themselves, and they seize every opportunity to show their resentment. Mr. Snowden lias been booed by former admirers, and when Mr. Winston Churchill accused Labor of bringing the nation to the point of beggary, Laboriies cried out unitedly, “Snowden.” The Chancellor bears these-demonstra-tions with a continual smile. Tie has never seemed so happy as now, and his old grimaces are fast disappearing. It. i- said that ho is glad he has got rid of his former colleagues, whom he says never understood him, and that he much prefers them as political enemies.