BRITISH ELECTORS’CHOICE

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1931, Page 7

BRITISH ELECTORS’CHOICE

SELECTION OF CANDIDATES

TO ENTER THE LISTS

AVOIDANCE OF CLASHING

PARTY RIVALRY IN PLACES

British Wireless. Rugby, Oct. 14. It is anticipated that about 1300 will be nominated on Friday for the 61'5 (Parliamentary seats to be filled at the general election on October "28. This will represent a decrease oT 400 compared with the number at the last election, in May, 1929. On that occasion there were 470 single member constituencies, in each of which there were three or more candidates. At present there are fewer than, 100 such constituencies in which more than two candidates are contesting the seat, and a number are declining, every day as a result of the negotiations designed to avoid splitting the' National Government vote.

The old party rivalries in some of the constituencies, however, is still so acute that the local organisations still resist tlie representation of party leaders, who are advocating a united front against candidates opposed to the National Government. They point out that at the last’ election, owing to the prevalence of three -cornered contests, more, than half of the members of the House , were elected by a minority vote. Such a state of affairs in any case is being avoided on the present occasion. Whatever the result of the election; the party with the majority of will this time also have the majority of the electorate behind it. The stockbrokers are again doing unofficial business in “election majorities,” arid at present state ! that their “market” shows an expectation that the National Government will have a clear majority of 150 to 160 seats. Mr. Baldwin last night spoke on the wireless, being the first of the party leaders to do so. The other ’speakers in the series during the next ten days will bo Mr. J. R. Clynes, Mr. Lloyd George; Sir John Simon, Mr. P. Snowden, Mr. W. Graham, Sir Herbert Samuel, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, Mr. Arthur Henderson and Mr. Ramsay MacDonald.

“DESERTED BY LABOUR PARTY”

Mr. Baldwin stated that the National Government was called into being to carry out a task which should have been carried out, and could have been carried out, by the Labour Government. He declared that he and the Conservative 'Party would have supported the Labour Government with all their strength if it had had the courage to face the troubles. He informed the Prime Minister of that, but Mr. MacDonald. was deserted by the Labour Party and most of his colleagues. He said 'that the confidence of the world would be shown in the National Government, which was pledged to sound finance;

With regard to the attitude of can? didates representing the Lloyd George wing of the Liberal Party, it is stated that they will support the Government in dealing with the national emergency, except on the proposal for a genera] tariff.

In , his election address Mr. Neville Chamberlain stated; ‘Tn common with my colleagues, I recognise that no single remedy can be a complete cure, but while I am ready to examine every proposal which seems likely to be helpful, I must frankly say that I believe a tariff levied on imported foreign goods will be found to 'be indispensable.” He declared his conviction that the ultimate destiny of the country was bound up with that of the Empire. “The Dominions alone have vacant spaces and kinship with ourselves, which make them suitable as homes for the people of the British race,” he said. “It will be possible, with the aid of their goodwill, to prepare a way for developments which will restore prosperity to them and offer new and hopeful outlook for our coming generation.”

MEMBER VISITS NEW ZEALAND.

VIEWS ON BRITISH ELECTIONS.

Wellington, Last Night.

A survey of Imperial questions with special reference to the economic conditions in Britain 'was made by Major-General Sir Newton Moore, Conservative member of the House of Commons for Richmond (Surrey), at a luncheon tendered him to-day at Parliament Buildings by members of the Empire Parliamentary Association. After paying, a tribute to the operations of the association, Sir Newton intimated that in the forthcoming British general election he was according support to the National Government on the lines of Mr. Stanley Baldwin’s manifesto. "I recognise the overwhelming necessity at this time of national crisis of balancing the Budget and effecting every possible economy,” Sir Newton said, “and I await with confidence the verdict which will confirm in office a Government comprised of the trusted leaders of all parties and whose policy will include fuller use of the Empire’s immense resources without delay. “Mr. Baldwin’s view that the Imperial Conference should be called without delay after the election has my complete endorsement, and I know from knowledge gained during my recent Empire tour that it will be welcomed by responsible Ministers in the Dominions. I am absolutely satisfied that a reciprocal tariff with the Dominions will prevent foreigners securing and retaining the trade which England and other parts of the Empire have enjoyed.”

Sir Newton maintained that the imposition of tariffs in Britain if necessary would provide a weapon with which to bargain with foreign countries for a reduction in their tariff for British goods.