MAJORITY OF 140

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1935, Page 5

MAJORITY OF 140

GOVERNMENT’S HOPE NEXT BRITISH ELECTION STRONG HOLD IN COUNTRY MAY LOSE URBAN SEATS PARTY POLICY OUTLINED By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7.30 p.m. London, Oct. 26. Competent observers predict that the Government will secure a majority of at least 140 seats at the general election compared with 405 in the Parliament which -ended on October 25, says the Daily Express. It is anticipated that the Socialists will win seats in the industrial areas but the crovernment is expected to hold agricultural districts. The campaign is now in full swing with 1273 candidates already in the field for 615 seats. They are: Government parties, Conservatives 498, Liberal-Na-tionalists 42, National Labour 20, National 3; Opposition parties, Labour 530, Liberals 150, Independent Labour 30. Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, Secretary of State for Air, is not contesting Hendon. He is expected to go to the House of Lords. . The National Government election manifesto signed by Mr. Stanley Baldwin for the Conservatives, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald for National Labour and Sir John Simon for the Liberal Nationals states that the Government’s foreign policy will retain the League of Nations as its keystone, aiming at settled peace throughout the world. It will continue the present policy in the dispute between Italy and Abyssinia, not taking isolated action but prepared to participate in collective action. It will also endeavour to arrange further discussions aiming at a just settlement acceptable to the disputants and the League. Turning to the necessity for increasing defences, the manifesto says the programme will not be aggressive but will be strictly confined to making Britain and the Empire Safe and fulfilling the nation’s obligations to the League. Meanwhile the Government will continue its efforts to secure the limitation of armaments. Referring to Imperial policy, it says it intends furthe- to promote the exchange of goods between Britain and her Imperial partners, believing that any increase in their prosperity will always be reflected in British trade and employment. Meanwhile special and sympathetic consideration will be given to the extension of the colonies’ markets throughout the world. REMOVING TRADE BARRIERS. The Government believes that opinion overseas is moving in the right direction regarding the removal of barriers for international trade, pending which, the (government will endeavour to continue a reduction by bilateral commercial treaties. The manifesto points out that farmers are now receiving prices 15 per cent, above those in 19-u and that workers are obtaining the highest wages for 10 years. Housewives are able to buy more food for 19s than for 20s when the Government took office. Its agricultural policy will remain one of expanding the home market, enabling the expansion of production and providing r.ew careers on the land. The manifesto points out that more people are employed in Britain than ever. It cites the benefit of a cheap money policy, enabling a phenomenal growth in building with a wide field of employment. It is also probable that the improvement in home trade has not yet reached the limit. Nevertheless, the Government is constantly working at various plans for the initiation of enterprises by the State’s credit and other resources such as the Queen Mary, coal hydrogenation plant and the London transport scheme, costing between £30,000,000 and £40,000,000. It will announce others as they mature. The manifesto promises to examine the means test and other disabilities. It recalls that commissioners dealing with distressed areas have already exceeded the £2,000,000 placed at their disposal but finances will not be permitted to eliminate a practical scheme. Referring to coal, the manifesto undertakes to improve selling arrangements, unify mining royalties and appoint a commission to examine the methods of ensuring safety in mines. On social reforms the manifesto points out that 1,000,000 houses have been built in four years and that 420,000 slumdwellers have been rehoused, 200,000 being transferred to new homes every year. The Government intends to extend the contributory pensions scheme to benefit shopkeepers and “block-coated” workers, to raise the school leaving age to 15 with exemptions to children able to secure employment, to extend child welfare, to provide nursery schools and physical training, to improve scholarships and to modernise technical education. SPEAKER OPPOSED LABOUR CANDIDATE Rec. 7.30 p.m. London, Oct. 27. The Labour Party has adopted Mr. P. E. Barnes to contest Daventry against Captain Fitzroy, Speaker of the House of Commons. When he was adopted by the Conservatives Captain Fitzroy read a letter signed by Mr. Stanley Baldwin, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, Sir John Simon, Sir Herbert Samuel and Mr. Lloyd George protesting against the Labour Party wantonly ignoring precedent and making an attack on the tradition that the Speaker must be above politics.