THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER. 4, 1930. THE TREND IN BRITAIN.

Wairarapa Age, 4 November 1930, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER. 4, 1930. THE TREND IN BRITAIN.

Though it was promptly hailed by the Beaverbrook Press as a great triumph for Empire Free Trade, the result of the South Paddington, byelection appears to bo really significant of the reviving strength and' popularity of the Conservative Party in Great Britain. It is true that the successful candidate, Vice-Admiral l Taylor, stood as an Empire Crusader, but he is also described 'as a good Conservative. The remarkable feature of the by-electibn is that- even with the Conservative vote split in half and the Liberals standing aside, Labour was unable to come within measurable distance of winning the seat. The apparently reasonable comment is made by the “Evening Standard” that “the total Conservative pell, showing a majority of 14,027 over Labour, reveals that the Government ’s policy at the Imperial Conference is not making: firmer its feeble hold on the electors” confidence.

An impression that Labour is losing ground in the country is heightened by the preliminary returns of the municipal elections in England and Wales, in Which- the Conservatives have made notable gains. From the point of view of the Dominions, which desire to see Empire economic cooperation made a reality, events in the Mother- 'Country could take no happier course than that of an early general election giving the Conservatives a clear majority ,in the House of Commons. This result "evidently will be very probable if an election can be forced in the comparatively near future. Domestic issues no doubt will count for much more than Imperial issues when the British political parties next go to the country, but the most urgent issues of British domestic policy concern unemployment and trade, and these cannot well be separated from the questions that have lately been discussed, with a. most disappointing absence of positive results, at the Imperial Conference. The Labour Government, when it goes to the country, will be attacked briskly on the ground that it has failed lamentably to carry out its venturesome promises to remedy unemployment, but it will be charged also with denying the country a trade policy that would stimulate and assist economic recovery and with closing avenues that Britain might follow with great advantage to her people by rejecting the advances of the Dominions at the Imperial Conference. It will be a great pity if means are found, of'withholding from the people of the Mother Country an early opportunity of giving their verdict on these issues.

W.E.A. PROGRESS. Members of the W.E.A, have every reason to be satisfied with the session which ended pleasantly last evening las one in which varied an’d interesting intellectual fare has been provided. The session ends in conditions which should ensure a brisk reopening next year. Congratulations upon the excellent results of this year’s activities are due to the staff-tutor, Mr. Brailsford, and to Mrs Barrer and those associatdd with her in organising the play readings which have notably widened the appeal and interest. of the W.E.A. during the past A very happy feature of the Session was the excellent series of lecture-recitals given in its opening stages by Mrs J. H. Fieldhouse. In kme way 'and another, the Masterton W.E.A. has done a great deal this year to provide pleasant arid attractive alternatives to intellectual indolence or stagnation. It may be hoped that much of the, work of recent months has been in the nature of breaking ground for broader and more

extended activities next year. The organisation of subsidiary study and discussion groups is particularly desirable as a means of assisting those who wish to do rather more intensive work than is possible at the weekly meetings. Hero as in other places, the W.E.A. has had some ups and downs,, but there is no doubt that it has developed. into a live and activeorganisation which has done a great I deal of good and may be expected to Ho even more in the immediate •future.