BRITISH POLITICAL SENSATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1926, Page 2

BRITISH POLITICAL SENSATION.

LIBERAL TURNS CONSERVATIVE. di ALFRED MOND EXPLAINS, fAustralia & N.Z. Cahlo Association.] LONDON, January 25. Sir Alfred Mond has severed his connection with the Liberal Party and joins the Conservatives. LONDON. January 25. Sir Alfred Mond intends to apply for the Chiltern Hundreds, and to seek another seat in the House of Commons. as a Conservative, for Carmarthen or elsewhere. Lord Oxford and Asquith has arrived in London to-night, but he has declined to coniemnt on .Sir A. A Load’s decision, which is regarded as it political sensation.

Sir Alfred Mond. in bis letter to Lord Oxford and Asquith, announcing his decision to leave the Liberal Party, said that all efforts to revivify and reorganise 11 10 Liberal forces have been rendered hopeless by the introduction of Air Lloyd George’s land policy, which bad produced a new profound cleavage in the Liberal ranks. Tie also announced it was his intention to join the Conservative Party which be said, was the one with which he felt be could most usefully cooperate. Sir Alfred Alond’s letter of resignation says: “The position of the Liberal Party is drifting from had to worse.” lie declares that lie had hoped that their recent compromise on their land proposals would secure a measure of agreement, but the resolution of the National-Liberal Executive to he submitted lo their land convention was so framed that it revived Hie policy of the nationalisation of agricultural land, to which he was unalterably opposed. and the fact that Lord Oxford and Asquith had apparently consented to the resolution proved there was divergency in his views from those of the party leaders on a point of fundamental principles.

LLOYD CEOHCE'S COMMENT. LONDON. January 20.

Hi. lion. D. Lloyd George, interviewed by the “Daily Express,” said “ T am not the least surprised at the action of Sir Alfred Mond. Obviously he has been making tracks for the Tory Party. Our land policy is only his excuse. His real reason is that Hie Liberal Party offers poor prospects to an ambitious mail. Like another notorious members of bis race, lie lms gone io bis own place..”