Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, DECEMBER 17th., 1934. LLOYD GEORGE CRUSADE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 December 1934, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, DECEMBER 17th., 1934. LLOYD GEORGE CRUSADE.

M R - Lloyd George has not been prominent in the political world of late, even his own constituents complaining that he rarely attends the House of Commons, most of his time being devoted to writing memoirs, or to his little estate in Surrey. lie is over 70 years of age, and is the “Father of the House of Commons, having been a, member continuously for over 44 years. His gift of oratory does not dwindle with time, and he can still produce effective phrases and slogans that sway the multitude. Whether he can now achieve a “come-back” must be left for time to-show, but in his newly-an-nounced crusade he 'will be dealing with a. generation of voters including many that know not the Lloyd George of the War and pre-war davs.

Many Liberals declare that he deserted that Party ■which he had led so brilliantly, but Mr. George claims that the Party deserted him. He has held aloof from overtures to return to the Liberal fold and lead his former followers out of the political wilderness in which most of them are placed. Results of byelections, since the National Government came into being, have been far from encouraging to Liberal candidates when any, and as a separate force, the Liberals do not count for much to-day, in Britain. Attempts have been made to induce Labour to enter into a 'working agreement with the Liberals, but this invitation has been rejected, except on Labour terms, which in effect would mean the swallowing of Liberals by Labour. Dlr. George has been reported on several occasions to be flirting with Labour, but the courtship has been onesided, Labour preferring single blessedness.

At an when most men are eager to retire, Mr. George proposes to launch a crusade, which must greatly tax his physical strength, and which will be met with fierce opposition from the present Government and Opposition. He proposes to appeal more particularly to the non-party electors, on a programme of national reconstruction. Until the details of his pro-' gramme are announced, comment

is difficult. The Government will claim that its own efforts at national reconstruction have not been minute, and that considerable success has already been achieved. Labour will accuse Mr. George of stealing its thunder, particularly the noise in connection with the control of the Bank of England. It will be said by those not beguiled by oratorical fireworks that Mr George is years too late, he reappearing on the scene after the chief of the national troubles are over. It is easy for him to exclaim now “Get Something Done!”, but that is what the National Government has been contriving whilst Mr. George attended to his own affairs, leaving national needs to be met as best they might. Mr. George is too astute a politician to believe that he will sweep the country with generalities. It will take him all his time to make his group in the House sufficiently numerically strong to have much effect on national destinies. He affects to scorn “isms,” but his own followers will not escape a. popular label. lie cannot win the big battle alone, and it will be interesting to learn the names of his chief lieutenants. It ‘is well that one with his great administrative and other gifts is to re-enter active public life, bufi his welcome would be wider were ho announcing a desire to co-operate with those who have been carrying the burden, rather than a resolve to add to their difficulties. ’ ' ■