THE CONSERVATIVES.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1922, Page 5

THE CONSERVATIVES.

HOPES OF A RE-UNION.

STRONQ PARTY IDEALS. MR. CHURCHILL’S POLICY, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 23, 7 p.m. London, Oct. 22. Lord Derby’s plea for the re-union of the Conservatives found a significant echo in the speeches of two members of the late Government. Major C. D. Murray, one of the signatories to Mr. Chamberlain’s declaration, declared he believed no permanent obstacle would be presented to complete re-union at an early date of the two wings of the Conservatives. Sir A. Griffith-Boscawen announced that he would give whole-hearted support to Mr. Bonar Law. He saw no reason why the whole party should not be re-united and win a great Conservative victory. Mr. Winston Churchill’s continued belief in the possibility of a Centre Party is expressed in a letter to his constituents, in which he declares that he intends to stand as a Liberal Free Trader, but hopes to co-operate freely with the sober-minded progressive Conservatives in defending the country and Empire against the Socialist and Communist menace on the one hand and downright reaction on the other.

PRESENT STATE OF PARTIES. UNIONISTS IN MAJORITY. The present House of Commons was elected in December, 1918, and may continue in being under the Parliament Act of 1911 until December. 1023. if Mr. Bonar Law's new Ministry is able to command a working majority. When the House was elected in 1918 the members were returned in the following categories:— COALITION— Unionist and Coalition-Unionist 383 • Coalition Liberal 127 Coalition National Democratic Party ... 11 National Party 2 523 OTHER PARTIES—i Independent Liberals 34 I Labor 63 Sinn Fein 73 Nationalists 7 Various Parties 7 184 Grand total 707 The Sinn Feiners declined to subscribe to the oath of allegiance, and have never taken their seats in the House. Since the genera] election there have been, exclusive of South Irish constituencies, 76 contested by-elections, and the present constitution of the House is as follows: UNIONISTS— Coalition and non-Coalition 374 LIBERALS— , Coalition H 8 Independent 35 r 153 LABOR— Non-Coalition 75 Coalition 3 7B OTHER PARTIES— Coalition National Democratic Party 9 Sinn Fein 73 Nationalists •• • 7 Independent 13 Grand Total • *®7 Thus the Unionists, Coalition and non-Coalition have a majority of 41 over all other parties in the House combined. including the Sinn Feiners. Should nothing interfere with the es--1 tablishment of the Irish Free State, the Unionist majority will be increased by the reduction of Irish representation at Westminster from 105 to 13 members representing Ulster exclusively.

MR. LLOYD GEORGE.

AN INTERESTING PORTRAIT. A portrait of Mr. Lloyd George forms one of the striking features of the narrative of the Versailles Peace Conference bv Mr. Robert Lansing, who was Secretary of State in the Wilson Administration. Nobody, he writes could come into intimate association with Mr. Lloyd George without falling under the spell of his personal charm. One might dislike his methods as those of a politician; one might even feel a measure of contemptuous surprise that he dared to discuss a question of territory without knowing exactly where the territory was; and there might be a feeling ot irritation that he changed his mind whenever it seemed to him expedient: but with it all ,one liked the man; it was simply impossible not to like him. His cheeriness, his vivacity, his never failing good nature and his delightful humor were assets which counted greatly in his favor. Mr. Lansing continues:—Mr. ILloyd George possesses a wonderfully alert mind which fairly bubbled over with restless energy. He made decisions rapidly and with little regard for details or fundamental principles. If he fell into error through incomplete knowledge or wrong deductions he picked himself up with a' laugh or a criticism and went ahead as if nothing had happened. In debate he was vigorous and often impetuous. If it were shown tha. Ids argument was based on false premises, he unblushingly changed his premises, but not his argument. The audacity with which he ignored logic was a subject of frequent comment. He, in my opinion, had the quickest mind of the Big Four, hut it seemed to lack stability He »ave the impression of a man who through force of Circumstances had been compelled to jump at conclusions instead of reaching them through the surer hut slower processes of reason. Vivacious, good-tempered, and Poking a strong sense of humor, Mr. Lloyd George was socially an attractive person. while in debate his cleverness in finding the weak spots in an opponent s armour and his utter indifference to his own errors made him a dangerous antagonist. He attacked with vigor and h/defended by attacking. But this unusual man possessed none of the arts of diplomacy. He was not by nature a negotiator. His successes at Pans, and they were not a few, were largely due to the excellent advice which was given him, and which ha wisely received.