WOMEN TAKING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18772, 30 May 1929, Page 9

WOMEN TAKING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY.

MR MACDONALD MAKES APPEAL OVER RADIO. (Received May 30, 11.30 a.m.) ' RUGBY, May 29. An address by Mr Ramsaj' MacDonald, leader of the Labour Party, was broadcast last night, in accordance with the arrangement. On the previous night Sir John Simon spoke on behalf of the Liberals, and the last of these addresses will be delivered to-night by the Prime Minister, Mr Stanley Baldwin, as leader of the Conservative Part}'-. * Mr MacDonald, whose voice is suffering from fatigue caused b}* the heavy campaigning work of the past fortnight, referred at the outset to the extension of the franchise to women over twentyone and declared that his experience, which agreed with that of others to whom he had spoken, was that women were taking their responsibility seriously. Among the many subjects discussed were those of international peace and the problem of unemployment. Regarding international peace, he said that the Government had not made the most of their opportunities. There would be no security until the great Powers agreed to settle the disputes which had hitherto led to war, by conciliation and arbitration. Referring to domestic questions, he said that it was

satisfactory to find that both the Conservative and Liberal parties now re-

cognised the obligation of the community to those suffering from unemployment, and he claimed that it was Labour that had forced upon the older parties this recognition. Unemployment, however, could not be decreased by relief work, nor by piecework of any kind. They must develop the national resources and improve these so that there would be increased employment. This must be accompanied by the reorganisation of transport, including the making of roads, the reconditioning of railway equipment, the payment of pensions to enable the more aged workers to retire, and the raising of the school age, with the necessary maintenance grants. The Labour pro gramme for dealing with unemployment was not a programme of relief works upon which the capital spent would be mainly lost to the country It was a programme designed to add to the wealth and efficiency of the nation and to open the way to markets—foreign, Empire and home markets. Labour aimed at raising wages through the machinery of the International Labour Office at Geneva, and through international agreements like the Washington Convention. He repudiated the suggestion that the Labour Party was merely a class party. Great public services had been organised to bring all sections of the community within the meaning of national unity, and Labour aimed at a further development of these services and in the process of time the extension of the nationalisation of industry, of which public utility services such as the Post Office and the Electricity Commission were present examples. Last Speeches.

Election candidates delivered their last speeches to-day. Polling will take place to-morrow. Speaking at Preston, Mr Baldwin repeated his previous declaration that his policy was not one of promises. He said: “We prefer deeds to words. I have never tried to raise the cheers of the crowd, but I have tried to do something during the last four or five years and I am determined to go on. Whatever the verdict, I am not one to complain. 1 shall accept it cheerfully.” Mr Lloyd George reiterated his conviction that the Government was doomed, and declared again that the Liberal Party could and would conquer unemployment. Mr MacDonald asked the electors for a record majority for his party. He said: “We want 10.000.000 votes and no minority Government.” All Parties Confident. The respective party headquarters each express confidence in the result. At the Conservative headquarters it was stated that there have been no indications of a landslide anywhere. The belief is maintained that the Conservatives will have a clear majority of fiftytwo seats over the two other parties.

The Liberal headquarters say : “In the past week the prospects have improved 60 per cent, and they were good before that. The utmost enthusiasm and hope prevail. We have most reason to be hopeful of any of the parties.” The Labour headquarters say: “Returns from all parts of the country indicate that industrial districts will give the party a majority. What is more surprising is that the rural constituents are giving us a lead this time.Even in Devon and Cornwall, where the other parties have previously had matters to themselves, the candidates and agents are full of expectancy. In

London we shall capture enough seats to create a record for the Labour Party. VVe do not only hope to win back those lost in the last General Election, but also the constituencies in West London are showing signs of support. We believe that some will be won. We expect to have in the new Parliament a majority over the Conservatives and Liberals. A Labour Government will certainly succeed the Baldwin Administration.” Conservatives Expect Losses. At the last election, in 1924, the state of the parties was: Conservatives 413 Labourites 150 Liberals 40 Irish Nationalist 1 Independents 4 The Conservatives had a clear majority of 223 over the Labourites and Lib erals combined. The Conservatives are now anticipating a clear majority of fifty-two over the Labourites and Liberals. They admit that they expect the loss of a considerable number of seats. At the last election many Liberals voted for the Conservatives as the result of the Zinovieff letter, with the object of defeating the Labourites, and a large proportion of these Liberals’ votes are now expected to go back to the Liberal Party. On the Stock Exchange there have been for the last two months dealings in election forecasts. These have throughout anticipated a considerable reduction in the number of Conservative seats. To-day’s Stock Exchange quotations are: Conservatives 269 Labourites 246 Liberals 98 Independents 7 —British Official Wireless.