NECK AND CROP

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23265, 28 July 1945, Page 5

NECK AND CROP

TORIES THROWN OUT Basic Reasons For Landslide 8y Telegraph N.Z Press Assn.—Copv’ltzhi '10.40 p.m.) LONDON, July 26. To-day in .Great Britain a new phase of history has begun. For the first time in a quarter of a century the power of the Conservative Party has been decisively broken by what legitimately can be regarded as a bloodless revolution. The British public, which had appeared so apathetic and disinterested in the early stages of the election campaign—which many declared was unwanted—-threw out Mr Churchill’s Cabinet Ministers neck and crop, and gave Labour a majority such as the party, even in its most optimistic dreams, never believed was attainable. Right up until 9 am. today, when counting began, it was the general opinion that either Mr Churchill’s Government would return with < narrow majority, or that there would be something in the nature of a stalemate. Few would have guessed, or cared to place a bet, that five hours later a Labour Government would be in power, and that Mr Churchill's Government would have gone out on a landslide, with his Ministers falling like ninepins. . The intense excitement of this dull, overclouded day in London, that turned to rain and then to filtering sunshine, can be compared by New Zealanders to the day m 1934 when the Savage Government was returned to power. Basic Reason for Change Although opinions are now being carefully weighed, it is net too much to say that the basic reason lor the change is the working people's distrust of the Conservative Party, with which is associated a capitalistic system which, rightly or wrongly, is regarded as discredited. Not all the immense prestige of the great war leader Mr Churchill—which, unfortunately for him and his party, he sadly tarnished during the election campaign—was sufficient to swing people away from opinions which they had been forming steadily for six years. These had been influenced by the scars left bv the slump years, a feeling that the Conservative Government had been responsible for the drift toward war, a fear that the peoples interests might be sacrificed in the post-war years by profits, and a deep distrust of vested interests and big business. , , The mood of the country obviously was for increased nationalisation and

a greater share by the common man and woman in ■ ' only the running of the country but its wealth. Mr Churchill r .1 the Beaverbrook Press entirely misjudged this mood and aggravated it. irritated it with “Gestapo” scares and the Laski "red herring” and by neglecting to more on policy than on emotional appeals. A country which for six vc. rs had known what it wanted find fought for it was still unshaken in its opinions ..nd equally prepared Io vote for what it wanted. What effect a more moderate tone by Mr Churchill

during the campaign would have nnd on the vote, what effect less violent partisanship by the popular Press wov.id have had on public feeling, will likely remain one of the enigmas of this election. Other factors which must also be taken into account are the extra Irritations caused by what many regarded as a forced election immediately after the war with an incomplete register which disenfranchised many. No Easy Path To-day it is no exaggeration to repeat that a new phase in Great Britain’s history begins. Its trend depends upon whether' Labour, with a strong majority, will adopt a moderate path or go to extremes. In spite of its firm majority its path will not be easy with the post-war tangle at home and abroad to be cleared up. At home particularly with incipient industrial unrest, problems of housing, labour shortage and also the recapturing of overseas exports, the new Government will have to step warily but surely. For it is certain that if it does not produce solutions to these Questions there will be the inevitable swing of the pendulum which will be equally vicious m I its impact on Labour as to-day s results have been upon the Conservatives. . . Surprising Features Of the many surprises of the election, which cannot be described as other than sensational in the true meaning of the word, one is the massacre or the Liberal party. High hopes of its rejuvenation were held but in the im- ! placable mood of the electorate even its leader was defeated together with Sir William Beveridge, whose name has become almost a byword in the community. Another surprise, which was also a sensation, is the long list of defeated Cabinet Ministers- proof I enough of the dislike and suspicion in which the Conservatives are held. This list constitutes such a defeat as Mr Churchill in his years as Prime Minister never had to survey and it is made more impressive by the fact that the polling was heavy. It can be said that be largely contributed toward his own defeat both by his trenchant denunciations of Socialism and by accepting the persuasions of his advisers. An interesting point is that, once again it has been proved that however much the public may buy and read the popular Press they keep an independent mind where their political opinions are concerned.

Repercussions The result of the election will have many repercussions at home and abroad; at home where the forces of the Opposition can be expected to gather them elves quirkh, tinancrally | perhaps as well as politically, abroad | where a close scrutiny will be kept to , see where the policy of the new Government differs from the old. One thing is clear. There will be no! slackening in the war against Japan nor in the desire to maintain friend-, ship with America and Russia. As from to-day British Labour faces its i greatest testing time and the biggest I opportunity in its career to prove its I merit. It has the weight of public I opinion behind it in its heavy icsponsibility. An election sidelight lor New Zealand is that the Dominion is now ‘ re- J presented” in the House of Commons | Lv a Rhodes scliolur, Mr Platts Mills, who won a handsome matonlv lor Labour at Finsbury. Mr It. Lowndes, | another Now Zealander, was defeated in what had been considered as a sale Conservative seat, at Ciaph.'m. Building Substitute A new 1 ul‘dam e called emsonite. like thick cardboard, is being used in Karelia for temporary one-storey bungalows, says a Moscow message.