BEAVERBROOK’S FUNDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 904, 22 February 1930, Page 9

BEAVERBROOK’S FUNDS

SUBSCRIPTIONS BEGIN TO FLOW IN PROGRESS OF NEW PARTY United P. A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 10 a.m. LONDON, Friday. Among those subscribing to the United Empire Party’s fighting fund is Sir James Dunn and Sir Harry McGowan, who have given £2,500 each, and Sir Hugo Hirst, who has given £I,OOO. A British Wireless message says that much unrest is displayed in political circles in the recent announcement by Lord Beaverbrook that those persons who are responsible for conducting his campaign in favour of Empire free trade have decided to form a new political party. The newspapers state that in the lobbies of the House of Commons the project was much discussed yesterday. But “The Times” says there is no tendency at present to treat the new movement very seriously. It points out that the few Conservative members who have publicly expressed sympathy with Lord Beaverbrook's ideas have been equally emphatic in declaring their loyalty to the Conservative Party. “NO CONFLICT INTENDED” “They have no present intention of inviting open conflict with the group whose professions agree very largeh r with their own,” says "The Times,” “but they are certainly not disposed to secede from their old allegiance.” * Lord Beaverbrook states that he has been inundated with messages of good wishes for his new party, which intends to proceed at once to organisation by local centres. Tl 1.?. “, Da ily Herald” suggests the possibility of a new policy being advanced by the Conservative Party, whose pronouncement against food taxes in the interests of agriculture is regarded by the Empire free trade party as precluding the development of the Empire as an economic unit on the lines advocated by it. NEWSPAPER’S SUGGESTION The “Herald” suggests that the Conservatives, while adhering to their decision not to tax foodstuffs, might undertake to produce legislation prescribing that all bread sold in Britain should contain a proportion of Britishgrown flour. The “Herald” says It believes this would placate the leader of the Empire free trade party. Sir Austen Chamberlain, addressing the Conservative Women’s Conference at Birmingham, referred to the announcement made by Lord Beaverbrook regarding the formation of the new United Empire Party, which favours free trade within the Empire. MR. BALDWIN SUPPORTED Sir Austen moved a resolution assuring Mr. Baldwin of the loyal support of his leadership, and expressing hearty approval of the policy he had laid before the country recently. Sir Austen said that while he viewed Lord Beaverbrook’s movement with much sympathy, he did not think it a practical policy at the present time. “If it were possible by any act of ours to secure that economic unity of the Empire, to treat the Empire as one within which no tariff barriers or protective duties should interfere with the free course of Imperial trade, there is no sacrifice I would not think well given, in return for so great a boon to our country, and in our Imperial interests. “It is, however, idle,” continued Sir Austen, “to pretend that such an ideal is realisable or near the possibility of realisation.”