CONSERVATIVE PARTY

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 33, 8 August 1934, Page 13

CONSERVATIVE PARTY

A PBOGEA3OIE NEEDED

INACTIVITY CRITICISED

Although it had been decided at the last meeting of tho Central Council of tho National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations to have no further discussions on tho question of Indian Reform, until tho Select Coinmitteo hud reported, tho matter came up again at tho council's summer meeting (reports tho "/Daily Telegraph"). Sir Henry Page* Croft, M.P., pointed out that the Committee of Privileges had ruled that tho Seloct Committee was neither a judicial nor an impartial body.. He added that the Indian National Congress Party had decided to oppose tho Whito Paper policy, and asked whether, as the resolution at the last meeting appeared to have been approved under a misapprehension, they woi'o now at liberty to resume discussion of tho subject. RULING CHEERED. Miss Eogina Evans, chairman of the council, replied that- it was not compctont for her to allow any discussion on tho White Papor. policy, a ruling which was received with cheers from tho meeting. It had been agreod, she observed, that thero should bo no fur-, ther discussion: on tho question until tho Select Committee reported. The: exocutive committee of tho council would theu arrange to givo Mr. Bald-. win, their leador, the opportunity to take counsel with the members on the report. In reply to a further question from Sir Henry, Miss Evans said that no decision of the council was binding upon tho National Conference. Thero wals; no prohibition, sho explained, on area councils 'passing resolutions on the matter.

Sir Henry Page Croft: Tho report of tho Select Committee might'be de-. layed for a year, or even two. In that, event is the council precluded from, taking any further action? Tho chairman: The council is bound by tho resolution passed at the last meeting, until it is rescinded or varied. •Sir Honry thanked Miss Evans for her reply, and tho subject^ dropped. On the executive committee's report, ■Mr. Ball, of Canterbury, complained of the absence of any reference to_ the Conservative Party in the National Government' propaganda literature being sent to tho local organisations, and many members present supported his criticism. ■ ..;..■ Lord Stonehaven, chairman of the party organisation, explained that while ho sympathised with the criticism, he would point out that many supportors of tho National Government were not members of the Conservative Party, and in order to retain this support it was thought advisable _ not to emphasise tho party aspect, particularly in that litorature. (Voices: "Why not?" and cheers.) POLICY SUCCESSES. The meeting unanimously passed a resolution, moved by Major C. C. Tryon, Minister of Pensions, to the effect that the reduction in the numbers of unemployment, and the improvement in finance and trade in tho country was duo to tho vigorous action of the National Governniont. He claimed that: Tho wheat quota had saved many farmers from bankruptcy; kept many farm labourers from unemployment; and added 463,000 acres to wheat cultivation. ' The tariff policy had increased the homo production of iron by 53 per cent, and stool by 46 per cont., and the coal output "in'the first twentythroo weeks of this year 'by 7,750,000 tons. Mr. A." C. Crpssley, M.P., said ho believed they were losing a groat many members of their own party to the Socialists because "we have not yet put before the country a picture of what wo aim tho country to bo like in a few years' time." ■ "Elections are not won on Government records," he declared, "but on programmes, and this country is not yet in the happy position when it does not need a sourid programme." (Cheers.) Sir Arthur Steel Maitland, supporting the resolution, remarked: "I think the Government is doing many good deeds, but it is doing them by stealth. That is all right for the individual, who may thus achievo etornal life, but for a Government it may mean that it will not get life in this world." (Laugh--tor aud cheers.) Two resolutions dealt with tho Socialist menace, and tho need for more active propaganda on behalf of tho National .Government. Somo of the observations made were:-— ' Mr. Thomas A. Oook, M.P.: ■ Our greatest danger is apathy, of which wo had an example in the recent L.C.C. elections.

Hon. Roger Coko (exhibiting a pictorial propaganda newspaper): Tho outsido picture of bathing girls is alluring enough, but if you look inside j'ou find nothing about tho greatest danger throatoning the country-r-of a_ Socialist policy being put into execution.

"AX.I. X? NOT WELL." Viscount Wolmer: All is not well with the Conservative Party. Lord Stonehaven is playing into the enemy's hands by suppressing; tho name of our rtnrty from tho Government literature. Why aro so many nf our young men going.over to the Fascists? It is because our party is losing the enthusiasm it used to have.' Look how empty this conference room is. (Hear, hear.) Duchess of Atholl: It is difficult for the leaders of tho party to make a statement of nplicy when they are part of a combination, find without such a statement it is difficnlt for them to maintain the enthusiasm of tlieir workers. . •

Mr. H. B. Chaplin Baldwin referred to a letter, being sent out by Mr. Arthur Henderson "to Socialist organisations in connection with an anneal for £50.000 for a Victory for Socialism Oanrnaiern, to which each local party was being asked to make monthly contributions, and suggested that tho Conservatives might adopt a. similar mrtlind of raisin? money for propaganda. ; Mrs. Tale, M.P.. described by Mr. O. 13. Simmonds, M.P.. as the "Amy Johnson of Politics," received unanimous support for her resolution asking for an extension of the Empire air mail services, and that, tho Postmaster-Gone-val should send all first-class mail matter by air at a flat rate as low as nossil-vlo. Such a scheme, she sueteested. would not only icnU the "Ennwe closer fofirptlip.r. but would do much to en=nro thp snfr.f.v of the country in easo if -n-ar, and Imln its economic develop- i '•nniit. iii fimp of neacc. . !

Sir Kinffsloy Wood, the Postniasforsont n mOP«fI"P pnvino il" was the settled nnlicv of the 'Post Office to "so nir Ri»rvii>(»R wliPnpvfiv rtoRR'KIo. and >hn nnpsHnn of dovirminer thair use .was- mirier flp'TKirfniPiitoT 'cnusiflnvatinn.

On tiici motion nf Mr. Roniprset cle Hi air CRnutli-wost Norfolk"), thn mfletinir antn-ovcfl a motion t.liat Iflffisinfion for tlm nrnteclion of beef producers at a minimum cost to consumers should be pressed fni-ivnvri.