Marconi Crisis.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 June 1913, Page 4

Marconi Crisis.

"A MALIGNANT C'ANOEit." LONDON, Juno 10. The Marconi investment disclosures aro the sole topic of discussion in the Parliamentary lobbies. The Liberals remain in droad or further rovelations. One Liberal stated: "The thing is a--malignant cancer. Directly it is killed in one direction it breaks out in another." Many Liberals blame Lord Elibanks for not returning an J demand that the committee shall close the evidonce and prepare an interim report. The Unionists, however, consider

that the latest 'disclosures necessitate keeping the investigation opon. Au angry scene in the Commons was narrowly averted. It was threatened owing to a Tory calling when Mr Illingworth (Liberal) entered the House, "Here comes the co-trustee." Replying to a question the Premier (Mr Asquith) said lie had not heard, of Lord Elibank's purchases until last week, when Mr Illingworth informed him. He Tlid not know whether the investments in American Marconi's concerned tho party funds. Mr R. MacNeill (Unionist) asked whether-Mr Asq'uith was aware that Lord Elibank paid almost £10,000 for these shares whereas he secured his previous shares at a lover price. •Mr Asquith replied that ho had no knowledge • The Daily News, in protesting against the Tory "Alarum Excursione," says:—"The chief whip of the party is the uncontrolled master of the party fund. If Lord Elihank invested them, that is unfor/fcunately so much the worse for the party. But the matter has nothing to do with Marconi Inquiry. Any grievance that may exist ie a grievance of the party against its former whip as financier." The Chronicle censures Mr Spicer for not disclosing Lord Elfbank'e tel-

egram. The Chronicle adds that it is always of opinion that the purchase of American Mnrconis by Ministers is injudicious though not, corrupt, The mistake had been much aggravated by not being frankly disclosed last October. The latest disclosures were of little importance. The purchase of a few thousand more shares makes little clifforence.