PARTY FUNDS GROW

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 906, 25 February 1930, Page 9

PARTY FUNDS GROW

BEAVERBROQK’S LARGE FIGHTING FUND CONSERVATIVE LEAFLET British Official Wireless RUGBY, Monday. The United Empire Party announces that subscriptions to its fighting fund now amount to £40,000 of the £IOO,OOO sought. Politicians are watching developments with interest. The Conservative Party yesterday issued a leaflet stating that Mr. Baldwin had declared his intention to work for Empire free trade, but responsible statesmen could not ignore the difficulties iu the way of its immediate adoption. These were: (1) The unwillingness of the Dominions to accept it. (2) The fact that the main source of revenue in the Colonies was that of customs duties. (3) The existence of treaties and conventions for the regulation of colonial trade which would have to be scrapped. (4) That the terms of the mandates of mandated territories would prevent, them entering into the scheme. The leaflet adds that the only result of the action of Lords Beaverbrook and. Rotbermere in forming the new party would be to split the Conservative Party and help the cause of the Liberals and Labour. The former Conservative Secrefary of State for the Dominions, Mr. L. S. Amery, who a 1 ways has been a warm advocate of Imperial preference and has given some support to the crusade which preceded the formation of the United Empire Party, in a speech last evening said: This step is one I am disposed to regret because I fear it may to the dissipation of the Conservative Party’s energy.