APOLOGY WANTED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 130, 14 March 1931, Page 5

APOLOGY WANTED.

LADY HOUSTON AND MINISTER. SCHNEIDER TROPHY FUNDS. ■ (United Press Association— Copyright). LONDON, March 12. Lady Luev Houston has sentxa personal letter "to Mr Ramsay Mac-Donald intimating that the receipt of letters, from thousands of indignant * correspondents had compelled her to write arid ask him whether, with his. knowledge and consent, "the person who calls himself Under-Secretary of Air had grossly insulted her. ~-. ••■?•; "This person's title fits him about as well as a right-hand glove hts a left-hand foot. As Prime Minister, do you consider an apology is due to me for his outrageous statement:-" the letter adds. The British Government originally decided that it was unable to assist the British entry for the Schneider Trophy' contest with money, men or machines, whereupon Lady Houston, widow of a millionaire, guaranteed the sum of. £IOO,OOO which was necessary. Following loud popular outcry, the Government then gave /permission lor \ir Force machines and pilots to. be (employed, provided that there was no expense to the country. Following the announcement of the cmarantre, the Under-Secretary for Air (Mr A. F. Montague) and Lady Houston passed various criticisms of each other's action: , "Lady Houston's announcement ol Saturday is another proof that many rich peonle regard the liahdur Government" merely as a hateful interlude m which only the harest pretence of social decency is required," said Mr Montague, speaking at Reading. "While the wealthV- industrialist demands stringent economy at the cost cf the desperately poor, she talks about the Socialist Government's paltry excuses and the thermal state of her Mood. It would have been more sporting if she had made her promise in the patriotic spirit she claims to possess." •Lady Houston sent the following letter *to Mr Montague: "Poor Mr Montague; it must be a bitter pill for you to swallow, after doing everything to dish our airmen and "prevent them from talcing part in the Schneider Trophy race, to find you are dished yourself by a woman's patriotism ! Not understanding the, psychology of a Socialist Minister, 1 imagined i might receive your congratulations. I at least thought you would attempt to behave as a gentleman. Sir Phillip Bassoon, in j speech -at Folkestone, said: '1 did not think Mr Montague would have mot Lady Houston's generous offer with such a contemptible display of prejudice and bad temper.' "