LABOUR’S CARD

Southland Times, Issue 22729, 4 November 1935, Page 7

LABOUR’S CARD

BRITISH ELECTION DANGER OF ARMAMENTS 5 RACE MR BALDWIN’S DECLARA- 1 TION (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) i London, November 1. The Socialists’ avidity in seizing the Nationalists’ armaments programme as the best campaign card, it is believed, , largely explains Mr Baldwins outspoken declaration at a meeting of the Peace Society. “I give you my word, he said, “that there will not be any < great armaments programme.. We are bound over to make peace. It may n °t be an easy task, but we accept it.” Canvassers in all the industrial areas had reported the widespread circulation of a canard that the return of the Nationalists would mean a speedy plunge into war. . Lord Snowden seems destined to be the Liberal whipper-up. There is a strong move to get him and Mr Lloyd George on to the platform at Manchester in an endeavour to reverse the 1931 Nationalist landslide there. There will likely be 12 dominion candidates, including a New Zealander (Mr Douglas Cooke), who will have a straight fight at Hammersmith. THE PARTIES" CANDIDATES IN THE FIELD. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, November 1. The Nationalists report that they have 577 candidates, leaving °nly_3B constituencies unchallenged. Tne Labourites at present have 544 candidates and the Liberals about 150. Six Republicans are contesting seats in Northern Ireland. THE SUPREME ISSUE MAINTENANCE OF PEACE. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, November 1. The Supreme issue of the election is the maintenance of peace abused and safety at home, which is the definition given by Mr Churchill speaking at Camberwell. This was the keynote of many Government speeches. “Nothing shall silence me,” declared Mr Churchill referring to the German protest. “I have repeatedly stated, and I shall continue to do so, that Germany is spending £800,000,000 yearly on war-like preparations. How mad we should be to leave our defences in their present conditions.” Hecklers continually interrupted Mr Churchill, who referred to them as a handful of larrikin girls and boys. “It is lucky there is a British Navy ' or f they would taste Hitler’s rubber ' truncheon and Mussolini’s castor oil.” The Conservative Office announces . 347 straight fights between Government candidates and Labourites, 139 three- ’ cornered contests thus far and 22 Gov- ; eminent supporters unopposed. • GOVERNMENT’S PLANS ROAD BUILDING SCHEME. ’ (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) ; (Rec. 7.20 p.m.) London, November 2. Mr Neville Chamberlain, in a broad-

cast address, announced that the Government was embarking on a five-year plan of road building at a cost of £100,000,000. This would be possible because of the improvement in the national finances. He also revealed that the October unemployment figures which will be published on November 5 show a reduction of 40,000 compared with September. It is believed the improvement will continue if the Government is allowed to carry on with its present policy. . Replying to Mr Lloyd George, he denied that sanctions would be ineffective. Moreover, Italy’s measures indicated she thought they would be effective. Sir Samuel Hoare and Mr Eden have already answered Mr Lloyd George’s charges that Britain was responsible for the trouble between Italy and Abyssinia. Mr Lloyd George’s plan to deal with the quarrel disclosed that the Council of Action’s proposals involved British warships stopping Italian transports which, Signor Mussolini said, would mean war. Thus Mr Lloyd George’s peace policy would begin with war. He added that Mr Lloyd Georges . agricultural proposals were not acceptable because they would greatly in- . crease the price of food and bring about more unemployed, fatally injure foreign trade and hit the? dominions so severely that they would ruthlessly reduce pur- ; chases from Britain.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS A KEEN STRUGGLE. MR RAMSAY MACDONALD’S VIEWS. (United Press Assn—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) London, November 2. The municipal elections have not shed much light on the greater contest ahead. They show a dour alternation of gains and losses, upon the whole favourable to Labour. There were a few spectacular turnovers in which Labour was worsted. On the contrary however Labour pulled up in many towns. Liberals showed refreshing liveliness.

Mr Ramsay MacDonald, commenting on the results, said they showed that the mass of the people were sane and not deceived by reckless promises. “The tragedy of our time is Labour’s mishandling of the issues. The leaders ought to take a lesson and realize that the management of the party for four years has been disastrous to the movement” he said. According to the latest returns, the Conservatives gained 56 and lost 22; the Liberals gained 12 and lost 14; Labour gained 39 and lost 66; Independents gained 25 and lost 28. Mr Herbert Morrison declares that the results are somewhat unexpected. The Observer expresses the opinion that the results will greatly hearten members of the Government as Labour were expecting to win many seats.