BRITISH POLITICS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20445, 16 June 1936, Page 9

BRITISH POLITICS

RIVAL CLAIMS AT BY-ELECTION APPEALS BY LEADERS British Official Wireless (Received June 15, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, June 15. Polling takes place next Thursday in the by-election in the Lewes division of Sussex, and the Prime Minister has addressed a letter to the Conservative candidate stating: “You can point to great progress made in the development of our social services, under the National Government. You can instance the enormous improvement in trade and industrial conditions, reflected in the fact that during the first quarter of this year, industrial production, as well as employment, beat all previous records. The very fact that you stand for national security, as a means of the promotion of peace, is itself sufficient reason why the electors should rally to you.” The Opposition candidate has received a letter from Mr C. R. Attlee (Leader of the Opposition), who declares that the main issue of the day is poverty in the midst of plenty, and that the policy of the National Government is one of restriction and waste. DERBY BY-ELECTION MR LESLIE THOMAS DECLINES INVITATION United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, June 14. Mr Leslie Thomas has declined an invitation from Derby to contest his father’s seat. PEACE AND POVERTY LABOUR’S PRINCIPAL TASK AHEAD United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, June 14. Mr C. R. Attlee, speaking at Oxford, replying to the suggestion that Labbour should state its policy with regard to the monarchy, said he did not believe that would be the right tactics. Labour should tackle first things first. The leading questions were peace and poverty. Answering criticism that Labour members of the House of Commons were too old, he suggested pensions for Parliamentarians.