AUTUMN MADNESS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 230, 28 September 1931, Page 1

AUTUMN MADNESS.

Liberals Condemn Talk of Election. TARIFF ISSUE DISPUTE. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 26. Conservative opinion appears to be strongly expressed by the necessity for an appeal to the country. It is contended that a new Parliament is an essential condition to the successful framing of a policy of trade reconstruction. # Official Liberalism remains hostile to the suggestion and there appears to be « no likelihood of an agreement between the Conservatives and the Liberals. The real cleavage is in the tariff-free trade issue, in spite of the fact that an increasing number of Liberals are responding to Sir John " Simon’s lead. In the meantime, however, Mr Arthur Henderson, leader of the Labour Party, speaking at Burnley, expressed amazement at the suggestion that the country should be plunged into the upheaval of an election. He said that the Conservatives, in their hysterical demand for an election, had quickly forgotten the national emergency. Liberal Opposition. An election before Christmas would be autumn madness, said Sir Donald Maclean, President of the Board of Trade, when speaking at Cornwall. What would become of the pound sterling during the turmoil of an election, he asked, and who would safeguard the country against the profiteer? As Mr Snowden has announced that he will not seek re-election the nation would * be deprived at the most critical moment of the services of a trusted 4 financial guardian and great international figure who is respected and feared abroad. The Labour Executive in Seaham Harbour, Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s electorate, intend to nominate some other person as candidate for the next election. It is understood that it has been arranged that Mr Ramsay MacDonald, Mr Stanley Baldwin and Sir Herbert Samuel are to confer at Chequers Court on Sunday. His Majesty the King is due to arrive at London on Tuesday. It is reliably learned that the subject has not been discussed by Cabinet since the middle of last week, but it is almost certain that it will be a prominent issue at Monday’s meeting.