Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, DEC, 2, 1931. BRITAIN'S VERDICT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17640, 2 December 1931, Page 6

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, DEC, 2, 1931. BRITAIN'S VERDICT

Whilst our readers aro Avnitinfj, .impatiently no doubt, for the election returns to come in, it may bo interesting to refer once more to that great historical event, the British general elections of IMI. “An election!"

wrote one commentator, “it was a tidal wave of national emotion; it was an avalanche; it was a rout. The nation has spoken at the polls and the voice of it was a mighty shout.” Statesmen and writers found it necessary to speak in (lie language of superlatives in referring to the overwhelming verdict of the people; small words were not apt. Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, who had put all party loyalties below what lie conceived to lie his loyalty to the nation, and whose appeal undoubtedly was responsible in large measure for the verdict of the polls, in all modesty, simply remarked “I am astounded.” And it was astounding, for as one critic remarked, nothing in all the feverish chronicle of the tumultuous campaign had prepared for such a result. “The people of Great Britain went to the election booths like the inarch of an army with banners. If the test of the election was the guarantee of British credit in the world, the guarantee was given. If the world asked for a sign of national unity, the sign was there, like a great beacon tire in the night. There could lie no argument about this event.” One of the finest things about the British election result, we think, was file spirit in which .it was received by the Conservative leader. It was a victory that might have turned any man’s head. To have 475 followers in a Parliament, of 015 it was simply overwhelming. And yet Mr. Baldwin was prompt to say the right thing. “This is no party victory.” he declared. “It is an emphatic declaration by the people as a whole in favor of national co-operation in order to restore the fortunes of the country. Democracy has justified itself in the most striking fashion, and the patriotic instincts of our people have been revealed in alt their strength.” Mr. Baldwin, despite the fact he was loader of a parly which would ron„stituto throe-quarters of the piew Parliament and was therefore in a position to proceed with the policy on which it had definite convictions, fulfilled the high tradition of good faith which belongs to his record and his' name, and later by his action in the formation of the new Cabinet he confirmed this and more than kept his word. The Conservatives might not unreasonably have demanded a larger representation in tJie Cabinet, than tbo

three-fifths which their twelve members out. of twenty gives them. They were in a position to enforce demands about' portfolios and policies, but refrained from doing so, realising that the Government was elected as a national one representative of all parties and-as such would carry out a national programme, and not a sectional one. Events and political necessity may ultimately decree that the Conservatives assume respomsibilit} for, a straight-out Government, but tliis will not come about with Mr. Baldwin as leader until he has exhausted every endeavor to work Die National in a spirit or non-partisanship. Wo sincerely trust that will also be the endeavor of our New Zealand statesmen if, as we expect, they arc returned in full strength at this election. The suggestions that it was planned that Mr. Coates should grab the leadership and that Mr. Eorbes would go Home as High Commissioner were unworthy. There is, we believe, as much patriotism about tlic people of New Zealand as amongst those at Home, and our leaders ate out to do their best for the country irrespective of their own biforests. The Coalition Government in New Zealand, as well as the National Government in Britain, will preserve the good faith and goodwill associated with its coming into being. It will have, no doubt, a strong man date from the .people to go forward with a progressive policy of restoration and upbuilding of national prosperity.