BRITISH POLITICS

Southland Times, Issue 22732, 7 November 1935, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

ELECTION CAMPAIGN CONSERVATIVES APPEAL FOR FUNDS CROWDED MEETINGS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, November 5. Government Party organizers continue to complain of apathy, but election meetings throughout the country are crowded. Lord Stonehaven, on behalf of the Conservatives, urgently appealed for funds, emphasizing that the expenses were heavier than in 1931 because there were many contests where the Government candidates were then unopposed. Labour speakers throughout the country are concentrating increasingly on the Government’s domestic policy. They stress the prospect of higher food prices and allege that the railway, road and other schemes now being announced are electioneering dodges. Closing of Nominations. Nominations for 613 seats were received yesterday and the only constituency for which nominations have yet to be made is the English Combined Universities, returning two members. For contested seats the Opposition parties in the aggregate have 760 candidates in the field. Labour is represented by 552 of these, the Liberals by 154, the Independent Labour Party by 16, and Independents by 36. Government supporters, totalling 585, include 511 Conservatives, 44 Liberal National, 19 National Labour, 9 National and 2 others. Only two Communists have been nominated, compared with 25 at the last election. Three supporters of the Douglas Social Credit plan received nomination. Mr Oliver Baldwin, a son of the Prime Minister, is an Opposition Labour candidate for Paisley. The son of the former Prime Minister, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, and a son and a daughter of a former Prime Minister, Mr Lloyd George, are seeking seats. Sons of Mr Winston Churchill, Sir Stafford Cripps and Mr J. H. Thomas are also in the contest, and one member of the late Parliament, Mr Isaac Foot (Liberal), has three sons among the candidates. Labour Broadcast. A broadcast election address last night was delivered by Mr Arthur Greenwood (Labour), who declared that the Government’s full support of the League policy and collective peace system was too long delayed. He denied that Britain’s armed forces were inadequate for the purposes of national defence or insufficient to enable the country to take its part in developing a policy of collective security through the League. The Labour Party, he said, was pledged to maintain the armed defences at the highest point of efficiency consistent with the country’s needs and with its responsibilities with other League Powers under the Covenant. Referring to the fall in the number of unemployed, he said the figures showed that over the whole post-war period the industries had not expanded fast enough to absorb the normal increase of population. Regarding the suggestion that a financial crisis would be precipitated if Labour were returned to power, he said: “We seek no crisis and if one should arise it will be due to those interests which refuse to accept the fully expressed will of the people.” Desire for Peace. The Prime Minister, Mr Baldwin, in a speech at Liverpool said that not only did Britain need a strong and tried Government, but he believed also that Europe was looking to this country for help and advice as she had never done before. There was undoubtedly throughout Europe a strong and resolute desire for peace. Britain must do what she could to pursue peace, and in regard to the present war they must try to find some solution agreeable to Italy, Abyssinia and the League. Realizing that they had failed to prevent war, their next duty was to bring that war to an end, not by isolated action, but by all sharing the risks and all sharing in the honour of the settlement if it were obtained. Peace in Europe. was necessary and an essential preliminary to the restarting of international trade, which was essential for the prosperity of all European countries. REBUILDING BRITAIN MR MACDONALD’S APPEAL. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, November 5. “We are offering five years’ contribution towards rebuilding Britain,” said Mr Ramsay MacDonald in a broadcast address. He promised to seek closer helpfulness with the Dominions and colonies in order to widen markets. The Government’s defence policy would be found in the eighth article of the Covenant. An increase offered temptation for scaremongering, but the prime object of the National Government would remain to ensure that the bad old days of hostile alliances, building rivalry and armed camps would disappear for ever. The nation could not afford to return to party warfare amid the uncertainties and risks surrounding it. It would be criminal in these times, when aggressors killed before they declared war, to leave women, children and aged people defenceless. HOWLED DOWN MR THOMAS AND HIS SON. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, November 5. Mr J. H. Thomas was again howled down at a meeting on behalf of his son, Leslie, who is contesting Leek, in Staffordshire. Mr Leslie Thomas also had a hostile reception and the meeting ended abruptly. Two blind men are engaged, in hot contests. Sir lan Fraser is defending North St. Pancras against Labour and Liberal candidates, while a blind Labour candidate is opposing Mr Anthony Eden at Warwick. Mr Lloyd George, speaking at Pwllheli, claimed that the entire Liberal Party had approved of the policy of the Council of Action. WAGERS ON RESULT

GOVERNMENT MAJORITY.EXPECTED.

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, November 5.

A total of 954 candidates replied to the Council of Action’s questionnaire. Of these 354 replies, including 180 from Labour candidates, are regarded as wholly satisfactory and will be commended to Liberal voters. The Labour signatories include Mr L. W. Matters, a journalist, who was born in Australia. Bookmakers are for the first time participating, talcing odds on a Government majority. Wagers hitherto were confined to unofficial Stock Exchange dealings. The market shows transactions at present based on a majority of 190 to 205 compared with earlier estimates of 150 to 160.

Among the Labour members in the 1929 Parliament who lost their seats in the 1931 election and who are now seeking re-election are 11 members of the last Labour Cabinet