"STRATFORD EVENING POST" SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1929. BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 38, 16 February 1929, Page 4

"STRATFORD EVENING POST" SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1929. BRITISH ELECTIONS.

THE extension of the franchise * n Britain lias added the names of over live million of young women to the rolls, and therefore the, coining election in the Old Country will be fought under vastly different conditions from its predecessors. Under i(lie circumstances those actively engaged in the political movement are finding it extremely dillicult t'o forecast the result. It is often thought that women accept the guidance of (their men folk in such matters, and upon this assumption many of those ,who profess to he Confident as to the outcome are basing their calculations. However, women think for themselves in the majority of cases, and there are many reasons for supposing: that! in the coming battle the greater proportion will vote according to their own desires. Apart from the complication brought about by the large female vote, there are other considerations which cannot he overlooked and which make the result decided* uncertain. The Conservatives although they obtained a huge majority in the House of Commons in 1924. were in the minority m the Country. Since Mien the tendency 1 all by-elections has been agams them, and this is causing them rood deal of perturbation. The fact

that in the Municipal elections they suffered reverses is also not without its significance. The Labour Party has made several gains in national and municipal politics, and this may provide a clue as to the trend of public opinion. Then there is the Liberal Party which though

not so much in the public eye as the

0| ther two, has now closed up its ranks and presents a solid front. It will enter the election as a force to be reckoned with, and with a definite policy. There is little perhaps to justify the belief that this party will take the Treasury Benches, but the same position obtained in New Zealand before the last election, and here the unexpected happened. It may be taken that international affairs will not play such a big part in the result, as domestic concerns, and the industrial condition of the country will probably room largely in ithe campaign. If so it cannot but have a detrimental effect on the fortunes of the Conservatives who have not, made any serious attempt to bring about any permanent improvement. Indeed ithey do not seem to have the necessary vision, and so are forced to adopt in some degree the policy of Mr Macawher. Government opponents will make tire most iof the ter-

riblo conditions in the mining areas, and can he depended upon to fully exploit the shocking conditions made public as a result of the four and actions of the Prince of Wales, which incidentally must stand to his otex lasting credit. The Liberals claim that their policy, if put into operation, will revive the coal mining industry. This policy is founded upon the recommendations of the Royal Commision to which 'the present Government has failed to give heed. This will perhaps have the effect of bringing much support to the Liberal cause, more especially as in the present troubles of the coal miners many of the Labour leaders are decidedly as blameworthy as the coal owners. If the Conservatives challenge a pronouncement of Hie Country on the question of taritt reform in the direction of protection of industries, which policy has gained much favour of late, the whole fiscal policy of Britain will he raised. and the issue will largely depend upon the views of the new voters. Very rarely has the resu • of a general election been clouded m such obscurity.