PERSONALITIES MET.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18339, 27 May 1931, Page 15

PERSONALITIES MET.

SIR OSWALD MOSLEY. POLITICAL STORM PETREL.

(By T.C.L.)

A good many eyes are centred upon Sir Oswald Mosley, who has been aptly described as the stormy petrel of British politics. By some he is regarded as the nation’s future hope; by others as an impractical idealist. All agree, however, that he is sincere and honest, all believe that he is imparting unaccustomed life to the dry bones of the static parties.

The English public are very interested in the Mosleys, because of their aristocratic and social associations as much as their political vicissitudes. Sir Oswald was born to a baronetcy, educated at Winchester and Sandhurst, served in the war with the Lancers, and came back to secure a seat as a Conservative in. the House of Com-

mons at the comparatively early age of 23. He did more. He wooed and wedded Lady Cynthia Curzon. daughter of one of England’s most notable aristocrats. The wedding is still remembered as one of the most magnifleant celebrated in England, the King and Queen and the Queen of the Belgians being- amongst those who were present, Lady Cynthia shared with Lady Diana Duff-Cooper the honour of loveliness in their generation. She nbt only Inherited the beauty of her mother, a Miss Letter, of the United States, but the fortune of her grandfather, Levy Z. Leiter, the wheat manipulator of Chioago. Ideas and Ideals. In the ordinary. course of things, such a pair would have been regarded as staid and consistent Conservatives, but it was not long before Sir Oswald showed the restless spirit that has been his distinguishing characteristic ever since. He rebelled against his party and its leader (Mr-Baldwin), and when the first Labour Government was formed in 1924 he crossed the floor to ally himself with it. This unorthodox action caused his father, the fifth baronet of his time and a Staffordshire squire, to publicly threaten his disinheritance. The undutiful son replied that he would try to avoid succeeding to the baronetcy, and the broach remained unhealed until the father’s death.

Mosley had ideas and Ideals. He wanted to make England a better country for the workers to live in, he desired above everything else to find a solution for the menacing unemployed problem, and he thought the Socialists would prove the best instruments in an unchanging, Conservative country to bring about the necessary reforms. His ever forcefui, restless 'personality made itself felt In the counsels of the party, and it was not surprising that he was given a seat in the Cabinet when Labour formed its second Government. Mr MacDonald’s Government was full of promises and plans for the reduction of the unemployed masses, but when faced with translating promises Into action it found_. as many a new Government had found before, that it was quite a different tiling. The impetuous Mosley therefore began to rebel against his colleague? and, to the surprise of everyone, resigned his portfolio and with other younger men of the party issued a manifesto calling for the creation of a super-cabinet of five to lead the nation out of its economic distress. Mr Thomas’ Bitter Pill. At a subsequent Labour Congress Mosley met with a wonderful reception, showing that the rank and file of the party approved of his protest against the inactivi!y of their leaders on tho vital question of unemployment, and he was appointed to the executive in place of the old stalwart, J. 11. Thomas, whose defeat was a bitter pill to him and his Ministerial colleagues. Mosley was the hero of the hour, and from him Labour was expecting much. I heard him expound his new policy at a meeting of manufacturers in London. I had been assured that he was one of the best, public speakers of the day, and naturally Was interested to hear the message he was to deliver to tho hard-headed and unimaginative body of manufacturers present. Mosley was impeccably dressed, and made a fine showing. He was soon on good terms with his audience. He described the economic ailments from which the nation was suffering and the Ineffectiveness of the attempts of the various Governments to solve them. The country was slipping, and Governments as they were constituted and conducted could do nothing to arrest the downward movement. Something had to be done to make Parliament a “workshop” instead of a “talkshop." The Free Trade system had outlived its usefulness. It was ruining the trade and industry of England, because It exposed them to the competition of sweated continental labour. Nor was the Protection system any belter, it would only result in the protection and entrenchment of the employer at the expense of the employee and consumer. Sir Oswald’s Alternatives.

In place of these systems he advocated a system by which all parties the employer, the worker and the ronsumer— should be protected by modern machinery, maintaining a stab c market and a high standard or Hfm le helievod a secure export, trade could 1 o >-,1,111 no hv joining hands with the non i n Britain buying their raw material" and foodstuffs in rnlnrrt fn*

the Dominions taking British manufactures. If Britain had in her hands the tremendous power of centralised buying of foodstuffs and raw materials it could ask the Dominions for greater advantages in return than it was at present receiving. , Another possibility was the development of a more workable monetary system 'within the British Commonwealth. If they had a central bank with a gold revenue of £250,000,000 and a buying monopoly of the gold produced within the Empire they would be in a far more powerful position than at present. In the case of a protected industry he thought they could set up a commodity board dealing with the imposition of a tariff, On which could be represented not only the interests of the producers but also the interests of the consumers and the users of the articles. This would ensure fairness all round and make for the efficiency of manufacturers. It was a well-reasoned and forceful speech, one perfect in delivery, but his proposals for overcoming the present economic ills did not find great favour either with the manufacturers present or the general public, who regarded them as more or less visionary. However, Mosley > has launched his party, called “The New Party,” and is endeavouring to arrange for 400 candidates to light the existing parties at the next elections. Ho and his colleagues’ will find it difficult to convince the electors that Britain, still the centre of finance, shipping and world trade, can arrange her trade in watertight compartments and remain independent of the fluctuations of world prices. But no one questions the good intentions or vigour of this new star in the British political firmament. He is young and inexperienced. He has already “boxed the compass” politically, but endowed as he is with brains and personality, he should In time gain judgment and stability and prove a source-of help and strength to the nation.