The Daily News TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1935. ELECTION IN BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 October 1935, Page 6

The Daily News

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1935. ELECTION IN BRITAIN.

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At first sight there seems a remarkable similarity between the election manifesto of the National Government in Great Britain and that of its principal opponent, the Labour Party. In the 1929 election Labour pledged itself, if given office, to banish unemployment from the land. Two years of authority proved that the promise could not be fulfilled, despite financial prodigality that endangered the stability of Britain’s - economic structure. There is no such offer in the present campaign by either the Government or the Labour Party. The Ministry points to its record of actual achievement—finances restored, trade increased, less unemployment, slums eliminated and a social programme still being de-,-veloped. To that its opponents offer a broader-based programme , including public ownership of the principal financial and industrial agencies. Therein lies the greatest difference between the two social programmes. The Government’s is based upon a continuance of monetary and trading systems that have stood the test of time and experience; the Labour Party would substitute State ownership'and control for private, initiative and enterprise. Whether the tried or the new method is preferable is for the electorate to decide, for in other respects the differences in the social programmes submitted are more of degree than of principle. Another remarkable characteristic about them both is that there is no condemnation of the swing from the so-called freetrade to a protectionist fiscal policy. Labour has not raised the battle cry of “cheap food” for the masses, which up to the last election had proved fatal to the protectionist cause. The absence of such an appeal gives particular interest in New Zealand to the trading proposals of the two political parties. The Government offers an extension of Imperial preference to Empire - produced commodities, but with the proviso that home production and industry must be protected in the domestic market. That is the attitude the Ministry has adopted consistently, and if it retains office will remain its starting point in any fresh negotiations with the Dominions. Labour’s policy is not so clearly stated. It would “seek international co-operation on economic and industrial questions with a view to increasing trade.” The words have a familiar sound in New Zealand, but when co-opera-tion depends upon the other party’s willingness to arrive at mutually satisfactory agreements it is obvious that no definite promise can be made as to the result of such negotiations. The same is true of the negotiations with foreign countries that are to form part of the Government’s programme, but the Ministry can at least point to certain agreements made and give their actual results. In this regard also there is the choice for the electorate between accomplishment and promises, and it will be enlightening to see which has the greater appeal. The strongest plank in the Government’s platform is, however, its defence policy. It asks the electors to

give it authority to increase the defences until Britain’s strength is once more unchallengeable, not for the purposes of aggression, but that in taking her share in international profits for the maintenance of peace there shall be no misunderstanding about the Empire affording adequate support to whatever collective action is decided upon by the League of Nations. The Government and its supporters have a single mind on this most important policy. In that they have a decided advantage over their opponents, in whose ranks there are serious divisions on the subject of armaments. Like the Ministry, the Labour Party would give whole-hearted support to the League and would urge “all-round disarmament. Unfortunately Britain has been urging that course for the past 15 years, has backed her appeal by reductions in her own defence forces, but has found neither appeal nor example successful in bringing about disarmament. With such experience as a guide it is not surprising that those responsible for the safety of the Empire feel it is necessary to recast the defence policy. If the nation considers their judgment at fault it has the opportunity of preventing it from being carried into effect.' Upon this point the verdict of the electors in Great Britain is of the. utmost importance to the outlying portions of the Empire. Upon its nature will depend also the position Britain will hold in international affairs.