The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1922. LLOYD GEORGE’S RESIGNATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 October 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1922. LLOYD GEORGE’S RESIGNATION.

With the resignation of Mr. Lloyd George as the head of the British Ministry, there comes to an end, at least for the time being, the Coalition Government brought into existence by the war, and continued until the present time. The call to the Premiership came to Mr. Lloyd George in 1916. At the general elections in 1918 a Coalition majority of 249 was returned, there being 359 Coalition Unionists and 133 Coalition Liberals, while Labor had 64 members. Since then there have been a number of changes, but not of sufficient importance tq affect the Government’s majority, though quite a number of Ministers either resigned or dropped out of the Government. Mr. Lloyd George was able to secure as his colleagues in the Ministry the best men in Conservative, Unionist and Liberal camps, and it is to this fact, quite as much as to his outstanding ability and statesmanship, that he has been able to lengthen the duration of the Coalition far beyond the time that was deemed possible. In view of the pronounced agitation that has of late been engineered by the disgruntled members of the parties from which the Coalition Government was formed, it became increasingly evident that a. determined effort was being made to put an end to the form of united Government that hail piloted the country and the Empire through the darkest and most perilous days in British history. It was patent that if the disruption was to materialise, pressure must be put on Mr. Lloyd George to resign, and though it was doubtful whether he would bow to the storm or endeavor to brave its terrors, he is not the man to stand in the way of a change if the desire therefor is sufficiently manifest. In placing his resignation in the hands of the King, he followed the constitutional course. It is quite comprehensible that after some years of Premiership

involving unparalleled strain, and ceaseless anxiety, that he will welcome a respite from the shackles of responsibility. It was only recently that he stated he would regret severance from men who had served him faithfully, though he keenly felt the base tactics used by those who have been busy assailing the Government with misrepresentations “the like of which no other British Government has ever been called upon to face.” It is only human to err, hut we cannot forget that the policy of the British Government has not been that of any one man, but of those who are regarded as the foremost statesmen of the time. Apparently the Coalition has worn out its welcome, and the rank and file of the main parties in the House of Commons have become impatient to revert to the old party lines. In recommending the King to summon Mr. Bonar Law to form a Ministry, Mr. Lloyd George took the only course possible under the circumstances, doubtless in accord with the views of his chief colleagues, but it is evident that no single party in the House can command a majority, therefore it can only be a stop-gap, and it may be expected a dissolution will follow ; even then it will probably be found Coalition will be imperative. It will be noticed that at the Carlton Club meeting a resolution was passed that the Unionists should fight the elections as an independent party, under their own programme and their own leader, with a proviso for coalition with Liberals or ConserI vatives if so advised by their leader. There are several important i issues to place before the electors, but these will doubtless be subordinate to party polities. Mr. Lloyd j George is willing to serve any ‘ Government which devotes all its energies to the welfare of the Empire, the country and the people. This is neither the time nor

the opportunity to call to mind his great services. Before long the people will decide who is to govern the country, and the verdict will be awaited with considerable interest, especially in view of Labor’s efforts to secure the balance of power. The future holds many vital problems for solution, and it is to be hoped that those who are responsible for the task will be thoroughly fitted for it, and that Mr. Lloyd George will be one of the number.