General Election Canards Mr. Chamberlain's speech to the Edgbaston Conservative
Club should serve • to dispel the rumours about an early General Election: • He told the Club that there will not be an election yet awhile, that the Government had not even considered the date of it, and that after the India Bill there remained a great deal of legislation to dispose of before the present National Government had fulfilled its function. Let us hope that this will end the agitation for an autumn election. The desirability of strengthening the Cabinet and speeding up the te7itpo of its action has nothing whatever to do with the question of the right time for appealing to the country. It is not politically healthy to be constantly thinking in terms of elections. When Parliaments lasted for seven years there was much to be said for dissolving in the sixth year for the simple reason that seven years was too long. But the maximum term of five years was substituted because- period of five years was considered to be best for he duration of a strong Government—it was, just long enough time in which fully to develop a 'policy, but not so long as to induce fatigue and staleness. There is only one electoral consideration which the Government need seriously consider now—it should be vivifying its programme of action and strengthening its personnel so that it can present an impressive record when the election- comes. • * •*
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