STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2496, 21 October 1922, Page 1

STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER.

I.MM EUfATE ELECTION CERTAIN. LONDON, Get. 17. Tlio Daily Mail stales that tiie Premier in addressing the Coalition and Libera.! members of the Government, gave importnnt information about future political do velopmonts. lie stated that, the issue still depends entirely on the result of the Unionists’ meeting on Thursday, but it had now narrowed down to two alternatives. If the meeting supported Mr Austen Chamberlain’s plea, for a continuance of the Coalition, there would be immediate dissolution of Parliament. If it rejected the advice of Mr Chamberlain he. with other pro Coalition Conservative leaders, would resign from the Conservative Party. The Premier (Mr Lloyd George) and the Government would resign and it would then be open to the independent Conservatives to form a. new Government il they so wished. The inevitable result in either case was an immediate election since no Conservative Ministry could, carry OU in. the face of opposition created by defections. The Premier added that he was convinced he could command a large majority at the elections, lie intended to appeal to the electors and Liberals on the grounds that stability was still needed in the conduct of the Government. A. and N.Z. cable.