A Clear Majority

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 673, 27 May 1929, Page 9

A Clear Majority

MR. BALDWIN CONFIDENT

Country’s Fear of Stalemate

ELECTION BATTLE NEARS CLIMAX

(Vnited P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service)

Received II a.m. LONDON, Sunday. MR. BALDWIN, the Conservative Leader, is resting at Chequers. Interviewed, he said his strongest impression from his tour was that the nation was in earnest over the election. “I am confident that we shall win with such a majority as will enable us to carry ou our work for recovery of prosperity and the betterment of social conditions, against a joint Labour and Liberal opposition,” he declared.

“FEELING has taken root that a vote for the Liberals can only tend to produce a position of stalemate, and it is recognised that nothing could he more disastrous to a present trade revival than experiments with Socialism, or tho uncertainty arising from a deadlock, with another election inevitable. “The people are in reflective mood and want facts, not rhetoric. Again and again I have found the same sequence of thought—that the Labour Party, with its Socialistic schemes, its frank promise of increased taxation, is a menace to a revival of trade, and that the Liberal road scheme is an electioneering ruse and not a practical proposal; lastly, that the Liberals will put the Socialists in power if they have a chance.” Mr. Winston Churchill, Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking at Wanstead, said he scorned to make a promise without being sure the money was available to enable him to fulfil it, but it might be possible to extend the pensions scheme to people not classed as wage-earners. It would be hard if the tranquillity produced by the Government's stable policy should become apathy, which would permit of that Government’s defeat. BENEFITS OF PRICE FALL

The Minister of Labour, Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland, in a letter to the Press, says Mr. MacDonald is reported to have stated that the benefits of any fall in prices were lost to the workers to the extent that wages were falling while the cost of living wap falling, and wages had fallen under Mr. Baldwin’s Government by £27,500,000. These statements are untrue, writes Sir Arthur. . The general level of wages has not fallen hy comparison with those which ruled under tie Labour Government’s regime of 1924. The benefits of the fall in prices are not lost to the workers. On the contrary the rates of wages and the cost of living combined have risen 8 per cent, since 1924. That is equivalent to 19d in the pound. I challenge Mr. MacDonald to refute my state ments.

Speaking at Pwllheli, Mr. Lloyd George said he favoured not only trading with Russia but the restoration of diplomatic relations with that country. Asked which party he would support if no party had a clear majority, the Liberal leader replied: This is an attempt to induce me to say I shall support Labour. Will Labour support us? We have just as much right to ask them to do so. We are not going to be bondsmen or slaves to any party. We are free and independent.