The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1923. THE FINAL SHOTS.

Southland Times, Issue 19116, 7 December 1923, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1923. THE FINAL SHOTS.

With the close of the election campaign in Britain there seems to have appeared a distinct weakening in the Conservative fight, which gives support to the estimate that the result of the voting will be to deprive Mr Baldwin of his clear majority and open the way to a Coalition Governmpnt. Mr Baldwin cannot do anything with his Protection policy unless he gains an ascendancy in the House of Commons strong enough to withstand the defection of a few Conservatives who are not yet prepared to swallow the whole of his tariff proposals; but one of his strongest weapons in the final flurry must be the country’s disinclination to submit to another Coalition. At the present time a Coalition Cabinet would be a serious political mistake because the Old Country just now wants a definite line of action whatever may be the direction it takes, and a Coalition will mean compromise and irresolution. Mr Baldwin is finishing up with strong appeals on the tariff issue, but the campaign itself has ended with all partial fighting independent battles on a variety of subjects, so that the figures showing the composition of the new House will give no reliable indication of the extent to which Mr Baldwin can go with his tariff wall. There has been in this contest an outburst of rowdyism which has not been known since the great tussle over the Parliament Bill, which restricted the right of veto enjoyed by the House of Lords, and these disturbances mean that the Radical elements are making heavy efforts to force on to the electors bigger issues than Mr Baldwin is prepared to discuss. At this distance, of course, it is impossible to measure with any hope of accuracy the strength of the various political currents, but it will be surprising if the Prime Minister does not go back to power with a majority large enough to enable him to carry on without calling in assistance from the Liberals. A Coalition will mean his eclipse, and another split in the ranks of the Liberals, but that does not seem to be imminent—the foreign situation is too seriously placed at present for that to be contemplated without grave concern.