PENDING ELECTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1923, Page 5

PENDING ELECTION.

AN EARLY DISSOLUTION. PREMIER SEES THE KING. RE-UNION OF LIBERALS. LABOR PARTY CONFIDENT. An early dissolution of the British Parliament is regarded as certain, and the election is expected in the first or second week of December. Extraordinary activity is being displayed in political circles. Already more Conservative candidates have been adopted than last year; a union of the two Liberal parties (one is led by Mr. Asquith and the other by Mr. Uoyd George) has been arranged; while the Labor Party is confident -By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright Received Nov. 13. 7.40 p.m. London, Nov. 13. Though no official announcement has been made, it is regarded as certain that Mr. Baldwin has decided on an early dissolution. He had an audience witn the King this afternoon, and informed His Majesty of his views on the political situation. Mr. Baldwin later attended a reception in his honor at the Constitutional Club, where he took the opportunity ot consulting his colleagues and others. It is notable that he had a further conference with Mr. Austen Chamberlain. It is expected that Mr. Baldwin will observe the conventions and announce his decision to Parliament, probably today. The Daily Express understands that Mr. Chamberlain and Lord Birkenhead have been offered posts of Ministers without portfolios as a prelude to front rank office in the new Government if the Conservatives are returned. ‘THIS PARLIAMENT DEAD.” The Morning Post’s political correspondent says: “Thia Parliament is dead for all practical purposes, and if the official end is delayed the only result will be that the Radicals and Socialists will be free to campaign the country while the Conservative members are tied to Westminster. Arrangements at the Conservative Central Office are well forward, and already more candidates have been adopted than last year. Changes ih the Cabinet before the election are unlikely. Sir Alfred Mond is acting as a go between with a view to the fusion of the two wings of the Liberal Party, and certainly every effort will be made to prevent Independent and National Liberals standing in the same constituency anywhere.”

The Daily Chronicle’s political correspondent says: “A Liberal reunion may now be regarded as an accomplished fact, and no time will be loet in arranging a united campaign. It is understood that Mr. Asquith and Mr. Lloyd George will confer, probably today.” The Daily Chronicle, editorially, says: “The Government’s haste shows how little the Conservative leaders bblieve in their own case, since they are afraid to leave time for discussion. It the election is fixed for December history will brand Mr. Baldwin as an anti-democrat, as a jerrymanderer, a man who did not play the game, and a Premier who lowered the political traditions of his country by deliberately trying to snatch a vote on a paramount question before his countrymen had time to consider it.*

The Daily Telegraph says: “There is obviously much to be said for getting the whole thing over as quickly as possible. Having made a decision, we hope the Government will wage an effective and vigorous campaign from one side of the country to the other. The cam paign may be one of the shortest on record, but it will none the less be one «f the bitterest.” LABOR’S PROGRAMME. The Morning Post says: “Mr. Baldwin’s decision is that of an honest and brave man. He might have remained in office comfortably for four years, but he prefers to take his political life In his hands, believing that protection alone will cure the evil of unemployment.” The Daily Express advocates the Chamberlainite policy of Imperial preference. The Labor Party, as the official Opposition, professes itself confident of the result. The leader of the party (Mr. Ramsay Macdonald) was hailed by his supporters last night as the future Premier. The Daily Herald, outlining the Labor policy, says unemployment cannot be cured by taxing foreign-made goods and by Imperial preference, nor by reliance on an open market. The disease oi unemployment finds it roots in the system of production for profit, and the time ie ripe for the nationalisation of the two great basic industries, coal and railways. Labor advances this as part of its programme. The Liberal and Tory parties alike have destroyed the purchasing power of the workers, and have thereby crippled the home markets. They have cut down wages to the tune of a thousand millions sterling a year in a mad attempt to reduce production costs,- and therefore one of Labor s watchwords is restore home markets by restoring the workers’ wages. Labor also demands the revision of the Peace Treaty, fair play for Germany, fair dealing with Russia, a foreign policy based on reconciliation, and finally a capital levy to meet the payments of the interest on the national debt. London, Nov. 12. The Times states that Parliament will be dissolved on Thursday, and the elections will be held in the first or second week of December. MR. BONAR LAW’S SEAT. London, Nov. 12. A Laborite, Mr. Rosslyn Mitchell, is at present the only candidate in the field for Central Glasgow, in consequence of Mr. Churchill not accepting the position of Liberal candidate, and Sir Thomas Paxton declining to become Conservative candidate on medical advice. Several political correspondents agree that Mr. Baldwin has decided to dissolve Parliament on Thursday, with an election in the first waek of December. CONSERVATIVE REUNION. London, Nov. 12. Lord Birkenhead, Sir Robert Horne and Mr. Austen Chamberlain had a long talk with Mr. Baldwin at 10, Downing Street. It is understood all are ready to supnort

Mr. Baldwin, assuring him the unity of the Conservative Party, though Sir Robert Horne is not yet willing to re-enter the Cabinet owing to business engagements. The reconstruction of the Government pari passu with the appeal to the country is likely.