WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17220, 11 December 1923, Page 10

WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

PARTY DEADLOCK. W SEVERAL ALTERNATIVES SUGGESTED. Tclecraph—Freer* Association —Copyright Sydney ‘Sun' Cable. LONDON, December 9. Mr Clifford Sharp, editor of the “ New Statesman.” in an article in the ‘‘Daily News” declares that the solution ol the deadlock most welcome to Labourites would he u Tory-Liberal coalition. Even if it lasted only a few months there would Ik> a huge defection of Liberals to Labour. There is not the slightest, prospect of the Liberal Party committing suicide in this fashion, therefore, the Labour leaders must consider other alternatives. There is a possibility of the Conservatives remaining in office for

a few months under a new Premier and arranging another election about June, when the Toi ies, fighting without the protection incubus and 4pend more money than their rivals, would win some seats from Liberal and Labour. The second alternative is Labour accepting office with or without a more or less definite Liberal promise of support. This is what Labour’s astute enemies are advocating. Tt is unlikely that Mr Ramsay MacDonald will fall into the trap, but it would be difficult to refuse office if as leader of the Opposition be declines to keep the Tory Government in power and the Liberals spontaneously offer suppoi't. If be accepted office on these terms he would not have real legislative power and would be .sent to the countrydiscredited within a year. The third alternative is a Liberal-Labour coalition with Labour as the predominant partner. .-This solution, almost certainly favourable to the majority of the Liberal rank and file, would seem the best solution from the viewpoint of Labour and the public interest. If Labour is always going to refuse office until it has a clear working majority and is able to carry out its own programme it is likely to have to wait till doomsday.

The “ Daily News ” says that a definite alliance of Conservatives and Liberals is impossible. No Liberal would tolerate it, and half the Conservatives would revolt. A Liberal-Labour coalition Government would be acceptable to neither party, but a working arrangement by which one would take office and rely on the support of the other is within possibility. Labour would be almost certain to refuse office without power, but probably the Liberals could govern on a programme which would attract Labour support in the division lobby. Some Labourites are resolutely hostile to any working arrangement with the Liberals. If the party as a whole adopts this view another election is unavoidable. In that event Labour may obtain and seize the opportunity of going to the country.