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Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1932, Page 4

There have been reports of dissension among • the members of the British Cabinet,' and it has been freely mooted that some of the Liberal members; were .Tetiriiigi I 'therefrom, but news discounts this attitude. With .the formation bf ■ the National Govferiito@at, which went to ,tho. polls,’' on October 27, 1931, and tlje continuance of that Government after the electioiij the liberal Party became split intp three groups: Liberals (33), under the leadership, of Sir Herbert Samuel, who'' retained all their Liberal principles!, including that of free trade; Liberal Nationals (36), under the leadership of Sir John Simon, who were prepared to deplart from the traditional policy of free trade; and Liberals (4), consisting of Mr Lloyd 'George, his son and daughter, and one other. In December and January the need for creating a favourable trade .ibaflance and for increasing revenue brought about the decision of the National Government to impose a general tariff of 10 per cent., which was later increased. This decision could not be attained nith the unanimous consent of Cabinet, and on Januaiy 2-3, 1932, it was agreed tp modify the usual ministerial practice of unanimity, it being considered that the maintenance o-f national unity and the National Government was of paiiamount importance. Accordingly it was agreed that those Ministers holding free trade views should be at liberty to express their views on the subject of import duties and cognate matters of speech and vote in Parliament or without. The Ministers concerned were: Sir Herbert Samuel, 'Secretary for Homo Affairs; the late Sir Donald MaoLaan, President of the Board of Education; Sir Archibald Sinclair, Secretary for Scotland; and Viscount Snowden, Lord Privy Sea), [t was anticipated that the Ottawa Conference would create another difficult position in the. Cabinet, on account of the mutual;duties and tariffs imposed, hut at the conclusion of the Conference it was announced that it vtos unlikely that the liberal Ministers would resign, as they would feel that they were covered by the agreement-to-difjtir. It was stated, however, that they would probably conduct a campaign against the proposals as soon as they were made-public. .