The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1929. A POLITICAL REVOLUTION

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 662, 14 May 1929, Page 8

The Sun 42 WYNDHAM STREET, AUCKLAND TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1929. A POLITICAL REVOLUTION

A DOMESTIC servant who can play billiards and write as pungently as Mr. Lloyd George may yet become Minister oi Labour in a new and strange British Government. And it is within the bounds of reasonable possibility that her colleagues might include an ex-policewoman, also a Lady Clare, the daughter of a seventh earl, and a socialistic descendant of somebody who came over with "William the Conqueror. And why not? Such purposeful women might do much better and really could not do much worse than many of the men who have failed in modern polities. There is no doubt that conditions are changing rapidly in conservative England, which means, of coui’se, also the better part inhabited by sensitive Scots. For proof of the so-called revolution in Bi'itish politics one has only- to note the piquant fact that a titled lady candidate in the Labour cause actually gave up fox-hunting to propagate Socialism. It is impossible to say with any certainty whether she might serve her country more notably by mothering something better, but many people will at least be inclined to think so. In the meantime a seventh earl’s daughter merely has abandoned the pursuit of one Avily animal to chase another more elusive. She has been loyal at any rate to her sporting colours, though a red tie is less attractive than a red coat or a reddish Reynard. Socialism has its own attractions, but there still is reason to doubt if these are as alluring as those of Conservatism and resurrected Liberalism. Though several aristocrats Avho fear the Avorst may deem it Avise to hunt Avith the raiders on Avealth, it has to be obseiw.ed that hereditary riches and most of the intellectuals keep faithful to their old political loves. Heirs to great possessions folloAv the lead of Mr. Baldwin toward safety and security in amiable political activity, and poets, musicians and at least one brilliant novelist, probably lured by the dulcet tunes of the Welsh harpist and the romance of a Liberal revival, march gaily under the banner of Mr. Lloyd George Avho hoav is described in all the Rothermere neAvspapers as the “Happy ..Warrior.” It is true that Labour has attracted the most remarkable measure of neAv thought among the higher classes, but it must not be overlooked that several working men have thrown in their lot with the Tories. Perhaps they believe in the safeguarding of industries so that British citizens may prosper on British manufactures and thus meet skinflint foreign competition Avith the right kind of industrial patriotism. There is no more ludicrous sight than to see a British merchant, Avho has made a. fortune out of shoddy foreign goods, Avaving the Union Jack and baAvling the first verse of the National Anthem on great occasions. Political elections, like politicians, are supposed to be pretty much the same all the world over, but here and there, as in Great Britain noAV, there are some remarkable differences. To begin Avith, the forthcoming British Parliamentary elections must be ranked as one of the most interesting and by.far one of the most important political polls in British history. Three distinct parties, each Avith practical experience, more or less, of responsible administration, and all as widely different as the dialects of their peoples are to be subjected to an historic experimental test of a record electorate, including every sane man and Avoman over 21 years of age. No one Avould dare predict the result of such a test in circumstances which represent a revolution in politics. One of the outstanding features of the campaign is the extraordinary public interest in national politics. What other country in the Empire, for example, has seen publie librarians issue lists of books for the guidance of new voters? British librarians are pro\ T iding this knoAvledge, and their choice is so good that every politician in the Empire ought to take advantage of the list. Politicians, as Avell as neAv voters, flapper and flaccid, are in need of guiding education. One of the books recommended, liOAvever, ought to be kept out of political hands. This is “The AcquisitWe Society.” They are now acquisitive enough.