BRITISH POLITICS

Wairarapa Daily Times, 22 October 1931, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

ELECTION CAMPAIGN MELEE AT MEETING. Press Association Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, Wednesday. Though local Rugby players were enlisted to keep order, unemployed men, hurling chairs and school slates, stormed tho platform at the Birkenhead meeting of Major Allen, the Conservative candidate. The candidate’s supporters were the centre of a fierce struggle, and Major Allen was carried out semi-conscious due to a blow on tlio head, but pluckily returned and made an effort to answer questions. The disturbance was renewed when ‘ ‘ God Save the King ’ ’ was played. Tho chairman was struck on the mouth and had his lip split. The police rushed in with drawn batons, cleared the school room, and dispersed tho crowds outside.

BOOM IN STOCKS. LONDON, Wednesday. Stock Excliango prices are booming, says the “Sun-Herald” political correspondent, yet three weeks ago financiers, including even Lord Rothermere, whose financial prophecies are widely respected, asserted that an immediate election would plunge Britain into chaos, that sterling would collapse, and that the Socialists would get a big majority', with a result little short of national bankruptcy. To-day this phlegmatic, unemotional nation is experiencing one of the most astonishing changes which ever occurred in such a short period in its history. The majority of the prophecies are entirely falsified. Tho public psychology is such that the feeling of confidence is greater than for weeks past. There is an expectation of a huge Government majority, after which will come a boom in industry.

Finally there is a fear, not that sterling will collapse, but, on the contrary, that it will soar higher than is justified. For example, if it touches 4 dollars 10 cents, it will bo too high, according to immediate values. Mr J. H. Thomas, speaking at Derby, claimed that there were encouraging signs of a restoration, of confidence under the National Government. Although normally unemployment increased in October, there had this month been a fall of 58,000, while there had been 150 applications from foreigners in the last three weeks for factory sites.' Most of the textile industries bad spurted considerably. One firm had received two orders for 10,000,000 jTU'ds of cotton and 6,000,000 yards respectively. Four mills in Lancashire were’ employing an additional 2000 hands. The coal output was also increasing, and three pits had reopened in Northumbria. Last week’s shipments from Welsh ports rose from 401,000 to 478,000 tons. The iron and steel trade was picking up, and boot factories in Northampton had orders for some time ahead.

GREAT CHANCE THROWN AWAY. LONDON, Wednesday. Mr Stanley Baldwin was clieered by an audience of 4000 in tlie Leeds Town Hal when ho declared that the Labour Government had had a great chance which was thrown away, and it would be a long time before it would get another. Ho exposed the hollowness of the cry against the bankers, and paid a tribute to the services of Mr Montagu Norman, of the Bank of England.

“ Harmony must prevail in the National Ministry, ’ ’ he said. ‘‘ There lies before us one or two, or, maybe, more years of arduous work that jwill not bring Labour or Toryism into conflict. “No conflict is possible while wo are wrestling with the finances of the country. ’ ’

The'loudest cheer greeted the reference to a tariff, in which Mr Baldwin said he could profess his faith without a violation of the spirit of the Prime Minister’s manifesto.

A HARD FIGHT. LONDON, Wednesday. The Prime Minister ’s fight at Seaham is most interesting. Mr MacDonald himself did not'expect any difficulty in retaining the seat, but he is row surprised at the strength of the opposition. Tho people of Durham are highly critical folk, and Mr Mae Donald was never their ideal type of candidate. His polished diction, aestheticism, occasional dreaminess and idealism, stand in sharp contrast to his opponent Mr Coxon’s bluff oratory and uncompromising realism. No two candidates could bo more dissimilar.

Another obstacle Mr MacDonald is facing is that his opponent formerly was his agent, therefore he knows all the ropes. One rcliablo observer from the North says the Prime Minister’s return is doubtful.

The figures for the 1929 election show that the combined votes of the Conservative and Liberal candidates was 12,087. There aro no Liberal and Conservative candidates in this election, therefore 12,087 votes should go to Mr MacDonald. The question that remains is how many of his 35,015 Labour votes in 1929 he can now retain. It appears that ho must hold a third of these in. order to win. This will leave Mr Coxon 23,744 votes, against which Mr MacDonald null have 12,087 Conservative and Liberal votes, plus 11,871 Labour votes —a total of 23,958, giving him a majority of 214. Thus ,Mr. MacDonald’s retention of a third of tho Labour vote in a constituency where a promise to restore dole cuts means votes, would represent a considerable effort.

CANDIDATE ARRESTED. (Received Thursday, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, Wednesday. Arising out of his speech yesterdaj Mr Bernard Moore, the Communist candidate for Duddeston (Birmingham), was arrested on a charge of being a disturber of the peace, and likely, to persevere in such conduct. Tho Magistrate, in remanding him, granted bail on condition that Mr Moore undertake to refrain speeches attacking the police and threatening violence. Mr Moore: “That is a big restriction. ’ ’ The Magistrate insisted and Mr Moore agreed.