BOLD CHALLENGE TO CRITICS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18637, 5 August 1930, Page 9

BOLD CHALLENGE TO CRITICS.

Mr Baldwin’s Firm Stand. UNITY OF CONSERVATIVE PARTY. United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Cop* right LONDON, August 3. “I am never going to see our great historical Party become a great hysterical party,” said Mr Baldwin at Bewdley, referring to the difficulties of maintaining morale and unity in the great Party in the hour of defeat, “especially where certain elements are devoting all their time and money to smashing the Party.” He added: “They will not succeed as long as I am where I am.” (Cheers.) MR BALDWIN AND LABOUR. THE ALTERNATIVE GOVERNMENT. A striking tribute to Labour was the outstanding feature of Mr Stanley Baldwin’s speech to the Imperial Press Conference in London. “ The Labour Party in England has come to stay,” Mr Baldwin said. “So far as I can see the Labour Party is, and I think will be, the alternative Government to the Government of the Right.” The subject of Mr Baldwin’s speech was “ England After the War.” His survey of post-war changes, however, covered Europe, the United States and the Empire. The General Strike. Referring to the swing to the Left, politically, in Europe, he said: “It was the growth of that feeling which led to the General Strike, I always held that the General Strike was bound to come, and it was no use attempting to evade it. “We were saved by the commonsense of the country. It was an experiment, and our people learned wisdom by it. because fortunately they only bruised their heads against the brick wall instead of splitting them.” It was the move to the Left which, Mr Baldwin stated, was “ the real fundamental reason” for the Conservative defeat in the last election. Labour Fears. “ The present situation,” he added, “is a difficult one for a democracy. You have a minority Government. But at the same time, although it is not my duty to speak for Labour Ministers, I am perfectly certain that those responsible for the Labour Party would be more frightened than anyone in the country if they had found themselves, or find themselves in the near future, in command of a large majority in the House of Commons.” (Hear, hear.) “ Because they know as well as I do that the education of the Party is not complete. That education is proceeding and will proceed because of the political instinct of our people. I have no doubt about it. I am not afraid of the future of our country—(cheers) Our democracy is fundamentally far too honest for you to have any fears for it.” (Hear, hear.) In a survey of modern industrial problems Mr Baldwin said:—“The adjustment of mankind to the machine is the biggest problem that humanity is up against, and I cannot prophesy what the end is going to be. “ The Continent of Europe will be following in our path before long, and within twenty years the States will also follow, and I think their problems will be bigger and far more difficult than those we are facing to-day.” Mr Baldwin ended with an appeal for Empire unity as a safeguard for the peace of the world.