HOME POLITICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1922, Page 5

HOME POLITICS.

ATTITUDE OF UNIONISTS. LOYAL TO COALITION. AGREE ON PRINCIPLES.. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Feb. 22, 7.35 pm. London, Feb. 21. Mr. Austen Chamberlain, addressing a meeting of the Central Council of National Unionists, called to discuss the Conservative Party’s future policy, and particularly its relations towards the Coalition, said that at the next election there would be a distinct understanding between the Unionists and Mr. Lloyd George’s followers, who agreed with them on all the great principles affecting the Empire. The war had swept away party distinctions, and many issues which divided them sharply before the war had been either settled or had attained a larger measure of agreement than had been possible before the war. To-day the majority of electorates remained unattached to any party traditions.

He realised that many suspected he was weakening in his faith and abandoning his old principles. He admitted he was adopting new policies to suit the new situation of the altered world. They would maintain national and Imperial strength, which was the heart and kernel of the Unionist creed, but they must be prepared to fight for economy and the suspension of many things desirable in better times, and possibly they would have to fight therefor as long and tenaciously as they fought the Germans. It was unlikely that he and Mr. Lloyd George would issue a joint election programme; it was more probable they would follow the example of Mr. Balfour and Mr. Chamberlain’s father, and issue separate addresses, but with a prior mutual understanding as to what was wanted and what methods it was proposed to follow. It would not be of advantage to them to quarrel with the Coalition-Liberals, for if they destroyed the latter’s chances in some places they would destroy their own in many constituencies, which they could not hold or keep without the help of the Coalition-Liberals. In view of the present economic, financial and social difficulties they must resolve primarily on unity within their own ranks, and, secondly, on co-operation with all standing for the same fundamental principles.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.