Of course his late Parliamentary leaders, Lord Asquith and Mr. Loyd George do not publicly express much regret at his departure, but none the less Sir Alfred's defection will weaken Liberalism. With so powerful a lead as that given by Sir Alfred Mond it will not be surprising to find others following suit. Among Liberals who were returned at the general election with the assistance of conservative votes may be men-joned Captain Guest (Bristol N.), Col. England (Lanes, Heywood), Commander Hilton Young (Norwich), Mr. Ian Macpherson (Ross and Cromarty), Sir Beddoe Rees (Bristol S.), Mr, Hugh Edwards (Accrington), Sir Thomas Robin. son (Lanes, Stretford), Sir Murdoch MacDonald (Inverness-shire).
The Liberal party of 40 in the House is of course split up in three sections, Right, Centre and Left. The position of Mr. Lloyd George is rendered peculiar, since he, is entirely out of sympathy with the other wing of his party, headed by Mr. Runciman and Capt. Wedgwood Benn, Sir Alfred has undertaken to resign hig present seat in West marthenshire if it is desired that he should take this step. The lace Liberal leaders state that they will ask him to resign; in that and particularly if Sir Alfred should stand on a Conservative plat form the test would be very interesting.
The figures at the last election (October, 1924) were:
Mr. Baldwin is now outlining the programme of the Government. Speaking at Stirling on Tuesday night he declared that the Government was now considering Congested areas in the great Land. drainage Ecatfn an rvearch in aga The Government realized the dif-faulties of tackling congested areas, said the Premier, and would attempt to surmount them, for decent housing was the foundation Doth of decent life and social peace.
Housing reform was in the best tradition of the Unionist Party, and they were determined that 1 should be faithful to that tradition, and he hoped to enrich it.
The Government, he proceeded, were convinced of' the importance not only to Scotland, but to Eng-Jand, of pursuing a policy of as-isting Jand drainage.
The Government had under consideration at the moment the question of small holdings and the improvement of rural housing. He wished to congratulate Scotland on the progress she had made in. recent years towards better provision for education and research in agriculture. They were giving attention to the matter of research throughout the country, and hoped for a great deal in the development of agriculture generally.
The country was being assailed, proceeded Mr. Baldwin, with new Tevolutionary politics of land holdings with which the Conservative Party would have nothing to do, and upon the merits of which he might add, the very Party introdue~ ing them seenied to be divided. They, the "Government, had no intention of transferring the land of the country to the County Council agree," added Mr. Baldwin, "with 8 cortnin member of riy Party, Sir '(fred 'Stond Caughter' and. cheers) that' freehold: ownership, ts the foundation. of a country. "We want to do what sible fo. encourage sitting-tenants bel occupying owners.
'We want t0 help to far as the State" can "help. in aiding financially, possibly in "miding," study, research And education: Bat we do realise that ultimately the farmer of Great Britain Who has" anything to earn must ulti mately' ely om himself" (Cheers)
Next day at Sunderland. Mer. Baldwin indicated the grant of larger powers to the Food Council, the certainty of Poor Law Reform next year, and remarked in a phrase which has attracted some atten The health of the expenditure murder one control people and pub-The thou Undoubtedly the Government is very sincere in its plans for social legislation.
The Economy Campaign Mr. Churchill, as Chancellor of the Exchequer has been making a number of speeches recently on the need for national economy, and has, I think, caused a very good impression it is now clear that the Government are taking' the whole matter very seriously. They are introducing a Bill when the House meets Mond (Lib.) vee 181 Owen (Lab. 7953 to reduce the mitments which have been sanction-
In a by-election in August, 1924—'a botter index to the political di sion in the constituency—the result was as follows:—
Mord (Lib)...
Stevens (Con.)
Many people believe that if opportunity is afforded Mr. Baldwin will offer Sir Alfred a post in the Cabinet. He would do very well at the Board of Trade, where Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister isnot exactly a success, There have already been suggestions that he (Sir Philip) might at an early date go to the House of Lords. ed in the past by legislative enactment. Yet every economy movement which is put forward is opposed by somebody or other who' thinks that these sacrifices should be made by everybody else. The country is, however, very tired of unnecessary outlay and Mr. Churchill ought to have an easier job than he seems to anticipate.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.