BOOKMAKERS’ ODDS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1935, Page 7

BOOKMAKERS’ ODDS

RESULTS OF ELECTION WAGERING ON MAJORITY GOVERNMENT FAVOURED INCREASE IN ESTIMATES By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright London, Nov. 6. Prominent bookmakers are for the first time participating in taking odds on the Government majority. The wagers hitherto have been confined to unofficial stock exchange dealings. The market shows transactions at present based on a majority of 190 to 205, compared with earlier estimates of 150 to 160. In a speech at Birmingham Major C. R. Attlee, the Labour leader, said the Government had failed to give a lead let peace and disarmament because the old Imperialists were still the strongest force. “We are offering five years’ contribution towards rebuilding Britain,” said Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, in an election address. The Government's defence policy would be found in the eighth article of the Covenant. An increase offered temptation for scaremongers, but the prime object of the National Government would remain to ensure that the bad old days of hostile alliances and the building of rival armed camps would disappear for ever. “The nation cannot afford the return of party warfare amid the uncertainties and risks surrounding it,” said Mr. MacDonald. “It would be criminal in these times, when aggressors kill before they declare war, to leave women and children and aged people defenceless.” A broadcast election address last night was delivered by Mr. Arthur Greenwood (Labour), who declared that the Government’s full support of the League policy and the collective peace system was too long delayed. He denied that Britain’s armed forces were inadequate for the purposes of national defence or were insufficient to enable the country to take its part in the developing policy of collective security through the League. The Labour Party, he said, was pledged to maintain the armed defences at the highest point of efficiency consistent with the country’s needs and with its responsibilities with other League Powers under the Covenant. Referring to the fall in unemployed, he said the figures showed that over the whole post-war period industries had not expanded fast enough to absorb the normal increase of population. Regarding the suggestion that a financial crisis would be precipitated if Labour were returned to power, he said: “We seek no crisis, and if one should arise it will be due to interests which refuse to accept the fully expressed will of the people.