TORY WRATH

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1933, Page 12

TORY WRATH

CHAIRMAN DEFEATED

Sir Gervais Rentoul has been duly offered up a sacrifice to the wrath of the Tory 1922 Committee, says the "Manchester Guardian." Sir Gervais was the chairman of the 1922 Committee, a body of Tory members of the House of Commons nominally organised to rejoice perpetually over the fall of the Coalition, but in reality an instrument for any Conservative purpose In the House. Sir Gervais had presided over the committee ever, since it was formed ten years ago. He was a devoted chairman. When the passion for economy (whetted by the "cuts" of 1931) looked like driving the Tory party crazy last spring,' Sir Gervais got his committee to split itself up into a number of sub-committees aud then he went over to the Treasury and told Mr. Neville Chamberlain' that ho need not let tho cause of economy disturb his sleep; the 1922 Committee would have a plan of "cuts" ready for him in the autumn. And they had. No sooner had the House reassembled after the summer recess than the report of the committee was given out to the Press, and then the committee, which had not seen, much less approved, the report, was called together by Sir Gervais to bless him for his expedition. It did nothing of the kind. Indeed, it bitterly censured him, for it turned out that? when the recommendations of the various sub-committees, which had been working in complete independence of one another, came to be lumped together, as they were by Sir Gervais, the result was a most reactionary document proposing wild slashes at all the social services. The 1922 Committee was not slow to see that the report was nothing but a priceless present to the Labour Party, and, indeed, it is said that Transport House has brought up all the copies it could lay its hands on. But the committee has had to wait for satisfaction. When the officers of the committee came to be elected Sir Gervais was defeated by 117 votes to 76, and Mr. W. S. Morrison, the member for- Cirencester, was elected in his place. To the last, one gathers, Sir Gervais was unrepentant.