The only party with 'a real platform is the Jitsugyo Doshikai or business men's party. Numerical weakness, however, prevents exercising any great influence in the political field unless, in special circumstances, in adjusting the balance of power. Its main Interest is in the improvement of the economic and financial condition of the country and, with this object in view, it advocates inter alia, the abolition of the protective customs tariff, abolition of Government enterprises, fundamental remoulding of the taxation system, and the {industriatization of rural commun ties. In its advocacy of freer trade by a lowering of the tariff, it h the support of two of the pro tarian parties. It is also of inter-jest to note that two of the proletarian parties include the grant fof the franchise to women among: the planks in their respective platform:
Whichever of the two principal partis heads the polls, the margin between them is likely to be but small. Neither is likely to come out with anything like a clear majority so that the influence of the small parties and the independents will probably be greater than their numerical strength will imply, they may hold the balance of power, Thin being so, orities foresee the possibility of an early overthrow of the ministry which the Election brings into power and the instit not ® non-party government under Admiral Viscount Saito some other outstanding non-political gurehend.—Router.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.