CONSERVATIVE SPLIT

Southland Times, Issue 19098, 16 November 1923, Page 5

CONSERVATIVE SPLIT

PREMIER DECLINES A BARGAIN CABINET IKKECONCILABLES BIRKENHEAD AND AUSTEN CHAM BERLAIN STAND OUT. (Bv Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, November 15. (Received November 16, I a.m.l The Morning Post understands that Lord Birkenhead’s overtures to the Government have not been accepted, and that he will not be a platform protagonist, though in Mr Chamberlain’s days there was no more doughty champion than he. It is generally believed that he wanted certain definite promises regarding what would happen in the event of the Conservatives returning to power. The Premier, however, refused to enter into anything that could be called a bargain. Mr Austen Chamberlain in a quixotic mood, chose to link his fortunes with these of Lord Birkenhead. Intense regret will be felt by the Unionists that there is no longer a prospect of Mr Austen Chamberlain and Lord Birkenhead rejoining the Ministry at the present juncture. The Premier undoubtedlv desired to see them in the battle. They were willing to enter the Government as Ministers without portfolios, but no invitation to join the Ministry has reached them and negotiations are stated, authoritatively, to be at an end. There is reason to believe that a number of junior members of the Government are unwilling to let bygones The Daily Herald says that Mr Austen Chamberlain refused io ioin the Cabinet unless Lord Birkenhead was included. The majority of the junior members of the Cabinet refused to consent to serve as colleagues of Lord Birkenhead. Sir Allan Smith (chairman of the industrial group in the House of Commons) has decided not to stand at the general election as the Conservative Association in his constituency refuse to allow him freedom of action regarding unemployment and Protection. THE GOVERNMENTS PROPOSALS. ELABORATING THE PROGRAMME. LONDON, November 15. (Received November 16, 1 a.m.) The Daily Telegraph says that Cabinet sat for two and a-half hours, being engaged with wholly domestic questions and the broad principles upon which the party would base its appeal to the country. The ?remier will have a good deal to say concerning protection of the Home markets and extension of Imperial Preference. He will also deal with proposals for assistance to agriculture and the social side of the Ministry’s programme. The Parliamentary Agricultural Committee to-day approved of the Government’s agricultural proposals, including a subsidy of £1 per acre for arable land where a minimum wage of 30/- per week is paid labourers. The executive of the National Association of Merchants and Manufacturers unanimously resolved to initiate a strenuous Free Trade campaign. Mr C. B. Fry, the famous cricketer, will wntest the Banbury seat as a Liberal. ELECTION PROPHECIES. GLASGOW HERALD FOR FREE TRADE. LONDON, November 14. The Daily Express, in an election survey, states: ‘‘The general opinion is that unless the Conservative Party receives some great stimulus it is certain to lose twenty seats, and it may lose thirty-five or even forty, w’hen it will merely be the strongest of the three parties. In any case, Mr Baldwin will no longer be aide to count on the tacit assistance of the Lloyd George group. Several Tories from Lancashire will be pledged to only modified Free Trade. Scotland has always been Free Trade.” The Glasgow Herald, which wields great influence, has definitely adopted a Free Trade policy for the present contest. It states that many Scottish Conservative seats are most unsafe. The key to the position undoubtedly lies with Lancashire and Yorkshire. Short of a Free Trade tidal wave like that of 1906, which is not anticipated, the Conservatives are not expected to lose more than ten seats, but several Lancashire Conservatives, if returned, must be regarded as independents on the fiscal issue. The Conservatives’ trouble in the south-west and in the Midland counties is stated to be lack of enthusiasm for the cause of home industrial Protection, on the ground that while it may benefit the workers in the large industries it will send prices up against the small traders, pensioners, and labourers. Birmingham is the stronghold of the full Chamberlain programme, and in that locality there are likely to be few losses owing to the whittling down of full ImPreference. The Herald, in summing up. says: “None can venture to predict for the Conservatives an independent working majority for Protection.”