CONSERVATIVE PARTY

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1930, Page 5

CONSERVATIVE PARTY

VOTE FOR LEADER. (Official Wireless). RUGBY, October 30. Seven hundred members of Parliament and prospective Conservatives candidates, and Conservatives members of the House of Lords assembled today to hear the Party Leader, Mr Stanley Baldwin’s declaration of policy. Mr Baldwin said that he had always felt it rash to declare the policy too long before the General Election, and there were many points in their policy which had not been, and could not yet be, touched upon. They were standing on the policy of very thorough safeguarding of industries, but he declined to commit the Party eithei to Empire free trade, or to the taxation of food, until he was in the position to say to the electorate that they were going to get something for it On Imperial policy, he had always held the view that for the Leader of the Party, it would have been in the highest degree rash to have made any pronouncement without waiting to see what the outcome of the Imperial Conference. He had been pressed to resign, but he would not consider it. If, however, they desired another leader, he would retire from politics with no malice in his heart. Mr Baldwin then withdrew, A motion was then unanimously earned affirming confidence in Mr Baldwin as the Leader of the Party.

When Mr Baldwin entered the* House of Commons this afternoon, he was greeted with prolonged cheers from all parts of the House. DEBATE ON THE LEADERSHIP. . LONDON, October 30. At the Conservative Party meeting Mr Baldwin, before withdrawing asked all supporting the policy of a “Free Hand” to hold up their hands. Lord Beaver brook was the sole dissentient. Mr Baldwin then retired, and Lord Salisbury took the chair. Mr W. G. H. Gretton (Member for the Hartlepools) moved that a change of the Party leadership was necessary in the national interest. He said that the electors were not prepared again to vote for “the old gang.” The impression had been created that Mr Baldwin had not the ability nor the power, to lay down and carry out a' Y policy.

Lord Beaverbrook, who was greeted with cries of dissent, declared that he was not interested in the policy leadership question, hut he was dissatisfied 'with the Party’s policy, “which”, he (Said, “could Hot be operated without .Viscount Hnllsham defended Mr Baldwin, whose qualification, be said, was that the electors knew that he would keep his pledges. If Mr Baldwin were sacrificed, and Lord Rothermerp’s vendetta were thereby satisfied the Party would be no better off, unless it chose a leader who was prepared to take his orders from the press. Thousands of loyal Conservatives would bitterly resent throwing their leader to the wolves at the dictation of the press. He questioned whether they would find any successor more likely to persuade the electors to grant a free hand to impose food taxes if these were to be considered advantageous.

Sir Henry Pa gee voft (Bournemouth) strongly criticised Mr Baldwin. He declared that “the Conservative Policy could not be carried out under a flabby vacillating leadership, changing from day to day. The ballot followed, the voting being :—For retention of Mr Baldwin as Leader 464; against 116. The meeting then unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Mr Baldwin, and pledged itself to support the policy and the leadership of Mr Baldwin. In a letter to Lord Salisbury, Mr Baldwin welcomes the decision of the dissentients to abide by the result of the ballot, and he expressed gratitude to the Party for closing its ranks ir the presence of the common foe. CONSERVATIVES POSITION. , JReceived this dav at 8.30. a.m.) LONDON, October 31. The Conservative press congratulates Mr Baldwin o<n the result and relies on the pledges of all present to abide by the decision and rally round the leader and show a. united front to the enemy.

The “Daily Express” is of the opinion that Mr Baldwin’s continuation of the leadership not only means the collapse of the party, but is tantamount to over the Government as a free gift to the Socialists.

The “Daily Telegraph” hopes Mr Baldwin will take heart. Some criticisms instances his lack of victor and attack, in the Commons and the partiality for colleagues irreverently styled “,old gang,” and failure to give younger men a chance. ■ The “Times” says among several good reasons why Mr Baldwin continues as leader is that there is no one at present whom the Party and country prefer to see in his place.