BRITISH ELECTION FIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 591, 18 February 1929, Page 9

BRITISH ELECTION FIGHT

GOVERNMENT ANYTHING BUT CONFIDENT LABOUR EXPECTS TO GAIN (United Service) LONDON, Sunday. Britain is on the threshold of one of the most outstanding and hardestfought general elections in her history. There are three notable features. The first is that there is no outstanding issue; the second is the impossibility of forecasting bow the voting is likely to go; the third is that it will be the first election under universal franchise, which will bring in 5,000,000 new voters. The fourth feature is the fact that the people of Britain are sick and tired of industrial depression and crippling taxes. Two prominent Labour leaders predict that their party will have a large increase in representation, but not sufficient for a majority. It is certain that the Government is anything but confident. Few except the most optimistic Liberals expect more than 50 of that party of be elected to the new Parliament, though Sir Herbert Samuel thinks the Liberals may equal the Labour members. Liberalism has failed to regain much popularity with British electors, and there is no present indication that the Liberals would coalesce with the Conservatives or with the Labour Party. The recent bye-elections were distinctly flattering to Labour. There have been 58 since the present Government took office. The Conservatives have won or retained 29 seats, Labour 21, and the Liberals eight.