General Election 1918
To the ELECTORS OF THE UXBRIDGE
PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION OF MIDDLESEX.
PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION OF MIDDLESEX.
FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS,
Having been selected by a representative Labour and Trade Union Conference as the Labour candidate for the Uxbridge Division, I now appeal to you for your vote and interest at the. forthcoming General Election.
I endorse the programme of the Labour Party. My outlook- upon the issues of the election is that the Government should accept its inundate from the House of
Commons, representing the entire people of the country, rather than that the Government should impose its mandate upon the freely elected representatives of the people.
In order to obtain the free and unfettered decision of the people of the country, I am entirely in favour of the complete restoration of freedom of speech, publication, travel, residence, and choice of occupation.
I am in favour of complete political democracy; a free House of Commons requires no House of Lords.
I am totally opposed to any form of conscription, military or industrial.
My policy regarding Ireland
Together with my colleagues in the Labour Movement, I am resolved that just and generous treatment must be accorded to our soldiers and sailors who have borne the brunt of the war, and to their womenfolk and children. I am, moreover, convinced that full provision must be made for the civil war workers discharged from the various munitions factories and war industries during the period of resettlement.
Soldiers, sailors, and all disemployed workmen must be guaranteed work at the current Trade Union rates of their occupations, or full and free maintenance by the State.'
The complete fulfilment of the nation's pledge to the Trade Unionists that their pre-war practices and customs must be unconditionally reintroduced shall have my fullest support.
All monopolies tend to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. The Labour Party policy is not to rob the rich, but to see that the rich do not rob the poor.
Our experience during the war proves that it is essential that the State should 'maintain its control, and should assume ownership of all the national means of transport— road, rail, air, and water. It becomes more and more essential that the State must also assume the ownership and control of the coal and iron mines, together with all other monopolies.
The land belongs of right to the people. Therefore the State must assume ownership and control of that which is the legacy of us all.
I am in favour of a free national system of education, from the elementary school to the university, providing opportunities for the fullest use of the natural abilities of every child. The higher branches of education must no longer be kept a close preserve for the rich.
On the question of the tremendous war indebtedness, I am at one with the Labour
Party in demanding that the country must pay its way by adjusting taxation strictly according to ability to bear it. I am in favour of the removal of all taxes on food and the institution of a graduated income tax.
The war was a war to end wars, and therefore the peace and security of Europe and the entire world must rest firmly established upon a League of Nations .
Regarding the question of old age pensions, I shall support the reduction of the age and a substantial increase in the amount.
Two important problems which are closely' allied are the questions of housing and health. This country cannot continue to hold a leading place amongst the nations unless we have a radical improvement in the standard of life of the
common people.
common people.
The Medical Boards have shown that afar too great proportion of our men were physically unfit for the onerous task of bearing arms. Yet the standard of life
has only been raised to its present position—which is still far too low—by the unceasing efforts of Trade Union and Labour organisations of the country. I am convinced that we must provide hundreds of thousands of well-planned,
well-built, and commodious homes for our people. These questions are of the most vital importance, and must not be delayed.
My energies and efforts have been at the disposal of various forms of public service for 25 years. During the war I have assisted the Government whenever called upon, and have served as a member of the Departmental Committee on the Reception and Employment of Belgian Refugees, the Statutory Committee on War Pensions, the Committee on Commercial and Industrial Policy. I am a member of the Port and Transit Executive Committee, the Special Grants
Committee, Ministry of Pensions, the Imperial War Grave Commission, and the Advisory Council to the Board of Trade,
I am quite prepared to continue to place my services at the disposal of the Government, but only as a free and unfettered representative of the people. I appeal to the men and women voters of the Uxbridge Division of Middlesex
to support me, asking during the election only for a fair field and no favour.
to support me, asking during the election only for a fair field and no favour.
Yours sincerely,
Harry Gosling
Published by:
Uxbridge Divisional Labour Party Secretary: Percy Langton, 18 Angel Lane
Agent: W. Knowles, 2 Brandville Road, West
