BLOW TO UNITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 121, 24 May 1935, Page 7

BLOW TO UNITY.

TORY DEFECTIONS.

Five Members Can no Longer Support Government.

INDIA AND SLUM CLEARANCE

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 23. Dissociating themselves from the Ministerial policy as threatening Imperial security in. India and handicapping British trade in India and Burma; also disagreeing with the methods applied in the housing problem in England and other legislation for which ■ they declare no mandate was given to the Government, five Conservative members of Parliament informed the Government Whip that they no longer support the Government. The quintet are: The Duchess ot Atholl (Perth and Kinross), Lieutenant - Commaiidor Astbury (Salford), Sir J. Nail (Manchester), Mr. Linton Thorp. K.C. (Nelson and Colne), and Colonel Todd (Berwick-on-Twecd).

In response to their protest Mr. Stanley Baldwin stated that no assurance could be given of modification of the Government policy. They must do what their consciences dictated despite the fact that their defection at the present juncture was a striking blow at national unity. The members concerned answered that they were dissociating themselves from the Government policy on the matters mentioned as they were contrary to the country's interests. This would enable them unreservedly to express their opinions.