BRITISH ELECTION

Southland Times, Issue 20664, 20 April 1929, Page 7

BRITISH ELECTION

CONSERVATIVE POLICY

PROGRAMME OUTLINED BY MR BALDWIN

THE INDUSTRIAL SITUATION

(United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.)

‘ London, April IS. Mr Stanley Baldwin, addressing 2000 Conservative leaders and organizers at Drury Lane Theatre, outlined his electoral programme and the entire Cabinet platform. Mr Baldwin aroused general laughter by beginning: “Mr Lloyd George has said that the Liberal Party is a party of promise. I accept that. I am no competitor—we are performers.”

The Prime Minister went on to emphasize the seriousness of the industrial situation. The general strike had proved a crisis, but since 1926 masters and men had been getting together. Conservative efforts had been directed at getting men into permanent employment. The Government had decided definitely against a scheme which would lead to large borrowings, believing they ran the risk of causing inflation of the market, which would make the cost of living rise. The Government was trying, by arrangement with dominion Governments, to make it easier for men and women to go to the dominions and overseas colonics. (Cheers.) It was now possible for practically all the boys in the depressed areas, if their parents were willing, to be transferred to districts where there was employment. The Government was appointing a comniision to advise as to the development of colonial territories. Returning to the problem of unemployment, Mr Baldwin stated that reorganization was going on in all industries and as a result Britain was recovering her competitive power. As progress was maintained unemployment would continue to fall. A factor which would be of great assistance in the next five years would be that owing to the falling of the birthrate during the war, there would be several hundred thousands fewer entrants into industry than was customary. No Taxes on Food. He continued: “This country has far to go in the direction of being humanized.” He repeater! his pledge not to introduce protection and not to impose any taxes on food, and outlined further slum clearing and educational reforms. “Ours is a policy of sobriety,” he said. “We promise nothing we cannot perform.” The Prime Minister proceeded: “While others are searching for policies to meet an emergency which is not likely to arise we, on our part, have been immersed in the great struggle for tears and, by a continuance of the policy in which we are engaged, we shall continue the process that Is now going on —that of conquering unemployment. We are recovering from the world our competitive power, our trade is definitely improving, and provided that no cataclysm of any kind in the way_ of a sudden reversal or an alteration of the industrial policy in this country occurs, that progress will be maintained and the improvement. will continue to follow. So solid are the foundations on which British industry now rests that 500,000 of the surplus of unemployed have already been absorbed in industry, and I have every hope that, given the conditions I have just mentioned. the figures will shrink in time to normality.” What industry wanted to-day more than anything else, he proceeded, were settled anil stable conditions. De-rating had removed from the overhead charges on industry between £20,000,000 and £30,000000, "and it had given greater assistance than had ever been given to industry in this country. The Government was satisfied also that the safeguarding of industries was the most valuable adjunct to producing permanent employment. Agriculture. Turning Io the question of agriculture and the means of helping it in its present condition, he said that protection was ruled out. A subsidy would be of no use unless it could be guaranteed that it would continue for an indefinite term of years and no one could give that guarantee. The Government, therefore, had gone straight ahead to try to reduce the overhead charges on agriculture. The Prime Minister announced that the Government had decided that, during six months of the year from October to March, which was always an anxious time for the stock-keeper, beef for the British Army, Air Force and the Navy when in home ports should all be home-killed. It was also proposed as an experiment that at least 25 per cent of the flour now in bond for the Defence Services should be flour milled from home wheat for six months after the harvest. No work done by the Government would stand the scrutiny of the country more than that done oy the Ministry of Health in housing. He believed that such progress had now been made in the building of houses that the time had come to go forward farther and faster in the direction of clearing the slums and reconditioning them. That would be the task to which the Conservatives, if returned to power would devote the whole of their strength and mind. Proposals were under consideration to extend maternity benefits under the National Health Insurance. One of the first acts of the Government when it came back would be to form a strong committee to enquire into the whole subject, of Child Welfare.—Australian Press Association. QUESTION OF DEBTS SETTLEMENT. PROMINENT ELECTION ISSUE. OPINION OF MR SNOWDEN. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, April 18. The House of Commons “debt repudiation” debate has been temporarily relegated to the background by Mr Baldwin’s policy speech, but nevertheless there is every indication that it will reflare as a prominent election issue, more especially in view of the fact that Mr Baldwin’s programme does not contain any outstanding Issue likely to focus the attention of the country. Labour certainly intends to capitalize the debts issue. Mr Snowden, in a lobby interview, said that throughout the campaign he would continue to criticize the Balfour Note. He had received a large number of letters, including some from Conservatives, approving of bis policy. He was convinced that the Government had made Labour a gift of an excellent election ease.

It is apparent that the debts question will be a vital appeal. Many are rightly or wrongly under the impression that much of the country’s depression is due directly to that factor. . ( With one or two exceptions Mr Baldwin's programme finds an unresponsive echo in the Press, though that is scarcely accepted as a reliable guide. Mr Baldwin, in the course of his policy speech forecasted the return of the Conservatives with a mapority of 50.

'Die Daily Herald, the Labour organ, describes Mr Baldwin’s appearance on the stage at Drury Lane Theatre as a tragic spectacle of a commonplace performer grinding out dreary nothings for anxious people looking for aid. “Mr Baldwin starts with the thesis that the main duty of Conservative statesmen is to do nothing for the masses,” says the Daily Herald. “The country' is sick and tired of his sentimental rhapsodings.”

UNEMPLOYMENT IN BRITAIN.

PROBLEM FOR POLITICIANS.

(Rec. 7 p.m.) London, April 19. ‘ The Daily Express, which has been long insistent that unemployment is the n&ra-

mount issue, says that references by Mr. Baldwin to the responsibilities of the Empire and the need for consistent development are excellent, but references to unemployment arc casual and superficial, which showed that politicians had not genuinely applied their minds thereto, and seemed unconscious that this was the supreme issue not only at the election, but to our social and industrial state. The Daily Chronicle says that Mr. Baldwin lived up to his reputation of being an honest man. He told his party that he could not promise a policy because he did not have one.—Australian Press Association.

GRAMOPHONE IN ELECTIONEERING

PARTY LEADERS’ EXPERIENCES.

(Rec. 12.5 p.m. London, April 19. Political headquarters have suddenly realized the value of gramophone records in electioneering. The effects arc more permanent than wireless or the talkies. The Labour Party first exploited the idea, though Mr Ramsay Macdonald in the recording room admitted that he would rather take part in a duet with Will Fyffe, the Scottish comedian, than address a microphone tqton world peace. Mr Lloyd George was seized with a fit of nerves and announced that he would never record again. He would rather face a million electors in the flesh. Mr Baldwin, hearing that his rivals had submitted to the ordeal, hurried to follow (heir example. Sir W. Joynson-Hicks, the Hon. Neville Chamberlain, Mr A. M. Samuel, Mr P. Snowden, Mr J. H. Thomas and Miss Bondfield also recorded aspects of current politics.—Australian Press Association.

PETITION TO CANDIDATES.

PROTEST AGAINST STAG HUNTING

(Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, April 19. All candidates at the election will be asked to support a petition in favour of legislation abolishing stag hunting as. a cruel sport. Fifteen thousand signatories include Bernard Shaw, Arnold Bennett, John Galsworthy, Alfred Noyes, Edith Stilwell, Rebecca West, Maud Royden, the Bishops of Birmingham and Ripon, the Salvationist, General Higgins and the Chief Rabbi. The Labour and Liberal parties are practically unanimously supporting the petition. In the meantime members of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals voted by 3125 votes to 1142 in favour of a campaign against stag hunting. It is expected that the decision will lead to resignations from the society, which has many stag hunters among its members.—Australian Press Association.