CAR FOR PREMIER

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 September 1924, Page 5

CAR FOR PREMIER

BISCUIT SHARES EXPLAINED. OLD FRIEND’S FORETHOUGHT. (Sydney Sun Service.) 0 LOXDOX ,Sept. 14. Mf* R. MacDonald, interviewed, expressed indignation at the disclosure regarding thirty thousand pounds worth of shares in McVitie and Price, Ltd., not for' his own sake, but because it reflected on Grant. “When I became Prime Minister,” he said, “Sir A. Grant was the proudest and happiest man in Scotland, although we are at opposite poles in politics. We met shortly afterwards, and Grant said that his contribution t-o my comfort would be a Daimler car. I replied: ‘I will have to be content to hire a car,’ pointing out that when no longer Prime Minister I would be a. poorer man than I was upon entering office. Grant pressed his offer, saying, “I will endow the

car,’ ” Mr MacDonald long objected, saying the use of a motor car would be against his simple habits. He finally consented, and it was arranged that thirty thousand pounds should be invested to provide interest for the upkeep of the car during' Mr MacDonald’s lifetime, then the capital would revert to Grant, or his heirs. “Thus,” added Mr MacDonald, “although the capital is not mine, I technically own the shares. I am sick to death' to have to talk about this; but must protect my dear old friend in the enjoyment of the honour which the King worthily bestowed upon him.”

Sir A. Grant, interviewed by the “Sunday Express,” said that Mr. MacDonald’s explanation respecting his shares in McVitie and Price Ltd., was correct.

“Shortly after becoming Prime Minister, he stayed with me in Edinburgh looking very ill,” added Sir A. Grant. “When I learned that he .was travelling on the London underground railways, I felt he was overdoing For instance, after he delivered a fine' speech at the Pilgrim’s dinner, he took a train to Chequers, where there was an old Ford car waiting. I suggested that I should give him a motor car. Mr. MacDonald replied: ‘There are only three from whom I would accept one; you are one of the three.’ That is the whole story, I think the nation ought to be grateful to me for doing something to preserve the health of the , man whose work is national.”