PARTY OR NATION?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2497, 24 October 1922, Page 2

PARTY OR NATION?

LLOYD GEORGE STATES ISSUE. IIIS DEFENCE OF COALITION. VICTORY AND RECONSTRUCTION. London, 21st October. Mr Lloyd George had a great reception at Leeds. The hall was unable to hold the applicants for admission. The audience cheered and I sang. Mr Lloyd George lengthily ! reviewed and vigorously defended | the Cabinet’s achievements. | lie said that the banner of part strife had been raised at the Carlton Club. The great combination of ! men of till parties and creeds, which Imd led the nation to victory in the . wttr and was gradually bill surely icadiitg it out of trouble, had ended, not because'it had ceased to serve the nation, but beeatt.se the parly wtts not getting enough out of it. It wtts for the people to decide whether tin* party or the nation came first. | -I STAND FOR THE PEOPLE." “I stand for the people,” he declared. "The time hits come for tt | culm dispassionate review of what | I lie combination formed in lfllfi inis accomplished. If it has not served ! Ihe nation, let the people condemn ! it. If it has served the people well and helped the country to achieve | something, treat it fairly and well. ! There was never a combination that | worked harder for the country. | During the hist six years, when criticism was pouring upon me, I had * no time to tell tin* people the real ! story. I have a little more time now 1 tun one of the’unemployed, i “The war wtts not tt had test of 'statesmanship, and I have done u few things in pence. I rook tt leading pttrl in establishing old-age i pensions, health insurance, the ! Treaty of Versailles, and the Lea- ! gue of Nations. The huge army j that darkened the horizon of Euri ope litis gone, although we have not ! rid Europe of the burden of arnia- ! incuts. That was ilie first aet of I the great drama of peace. L was a I great human charter which will he | acclaimed more and more as the a cars pass. UNPOPULAR RETRENCHMENT. “The next ta~k avc undertook aviis the re-establishment of national ' credit. It would have been no use ' to have followed a course of borrowing. Thai would mean less unemployment for the moment, but more unemployment three or four years hence. The (lovernment Pillowed the unpopular course of balancing its budget and making the patriot pay. When we cut down the Army, the Navy, and the Civil Service, we had no end of opposition. We have done it, hut have*m> voles as a result of reducing expenditure. Britain is the only country in Europe that has succeeded in balancing its budget. The result of that course is that the credit of the country lias risen. We arc beginning to look the dollar in the face on equal terms. We have recaptured tfle money market of the Avorld. Our credit is as good as ever and better. Wc are pulling through largely through statesmanship. Hr Chamberlain and Sir Robert Horne are men no! only with real capacity, but real courage. They took the unpopular course because they knew it Avtts right.” CRIME TO SMASH COALITION. "The country was pulling through the troubled post-war period with courage and character, and now 1 hat combination which was achieving it has been smashed by the Carbon Club. It is a crime against the nation. There has never been in the country’s history such a ruthless examination of every item of expenditure. We got a considerable reduction last year: this year we had tt still more considerable reduction; next year we will have a still more considerable reduction. "We also had to deal with the j industrial situation, Avhieli was unparalleled in its difficulty. Revolutions were sweeping the world, and increased our difficulty. We had crisis after crisis, but now we have peace through the industrial world. We made the most liberal unemployment. provisions. If it Avas right from the viewpoint of humanity, it was right from the viewpoint of sa fet v.

“Another of the tilings we were able to do was something which had far more to do with the break-up of the Coalition than anything. We made peace in Ireland. We secured the freedom of the Straits for which so many died. We prevented war spreading to Europe, and prevented

a repetition of atrocities Avhieh made the world shudder. That aajc have done by the resolution Avith which we confront difficulties despite all criticism. BONAR LAW WAS RUSHED. “We have been harassed at every turn by criticism. This country’s hand Avas Aveakened, and now the combination which achieved memorable things for tlie country has terminated. I am not complaining. 1 was concerned for the difficulties of this land —education of the people, disarmament, the peace of Ireland, the liberty of Irishmen, more liberty for India. These things do not sound well, do not especially appeal, to Belgravia Avhencc the opposition spread. The opposition did not come from the distinguished men of the party: the most distinguished, the most experienced, the ablest of all were against it. Air Bonar Law himself, Avho is honest to the point of simplicity, hesitated. I regret that he allowed his judgment to be rushed by his less-experienced followers, and put himself in the position of a horseman not holding tlie reins, but holding on by the tail. FEARFUL OF REACTION. “I was prepared to eliminate my own personality. I told Mr Chamberlain that I Avould support them, provided the Government was a reactionary party. I on that course because the opportunity came for snatching a party advantage. If a reactionary Min-i-try receives a majority in the e-lec-lion. I am honestly apprehensive aitout the results. Measures "ill be carried by the strength of subversive elements which will he disastrous to the country. - “1 promise the country that Avha lever the future brings I Avill do nothing mean or paltry. I Avill not play a part unworthy of the confidence placed in me at the greatest moment in tV Empire's history. 1 -land for sane and sound progress.” Responding to a vote of thanks, Mr Lloyd George said: "It is good to know that l am not forgotten bet aitst* of flic resolution of a West End eluh. I do not believe that the country will take orders at its bidding. I cheerfully appeal to the country. Some people Avill go to the jungle so long as they think there is safe sport.- When the jungle gets ihickeajjj, tigers tire most troublesome. They pass resolutions at the' Carlton Club.”