BRITISH ELECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1929, Page 6

BRITISH ELECTIONS

RECRIMINATIONS AT C'ONSERVA-

TIVE CONFERENCE

(United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph .—Copyright. 1-

LONDON, November 21. . An attempt to hold a post mortem examination into • the cause oh the 'Conservative Party’s failure at the recent General Election was badly beaten at the annual conference of the Union of. Conservatives and the Unionist Assembly. Mr Grant Morden moved for the setting up of an independent Committee to examine' into the working of the Party’s Central Office organisation, in order to devise closer co-operation. ‘He expressed the opinion that the present methods were out of date. The Leader otf the Party had more power than tlve Tammany boss. The Party Conference’s resolutions were Consistently disregarded, and notably more upon the reform of the House of Lords and regarding industry. They had faced the elections without any policy and they therefore/ wore without a soul. i: .< • Mr Renter, im seconding the motion, mentioned that an additional handicap was the absence of press support. Tins was due to the party heads deliberately embittering the newspapers. Sir William Ray deprecated any exhibition of feeling among the members of the Party. If the archangel Gabriel v'ere their leader, be would -be criticised, but be would blow his trumpet more„ loudly than Mr Baldwin. An amendment for the appointment of a sub-committee to investigate the troubles was carried by a large majority. The mover, Mr Herbert Williams, expressed the opinion that the only way to run, the Party was to elect its leader, and then to back or sack him. A long debate took place oil Sir Page Croft’s motion favouring imperial preference and safeguarding tariff duties. He said this should be put in the forefront of their programme, whereon to educate the electorate, ■ wit'll a view to success at the next election. They should also oppose the repeal of the McKenna duties. Mr Boyce, who is an M.P. from Australia, said: “If the Dominions become weary of our vacillation, and withdraw their preferences, our unemployment will be trebled overnight.” There was a scene of indignation and excitement when C'apt. Pierrepont opposed the motion. He declared: “It would be truer to say 1 bamboozle,’ instead of ‘ educate ’ the electorate.” Sir P. Cunliffe Lister said that unemployment would lie the test of the next election, and that its only cure was better trade. Mr James Gardner, who has been a trades unionist for forty years, declared: “If the Conservatives do not produce a bold policy of imperial preference, don’t be surprised if the Socialists do.” The motion was agreed to with only three dissentients. Rt. Hon. Neville Chamberlain was elected President.