POLITICAL SENSATION

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11012, 27 January 1926, Page 5

POLITICAL SENSATION

SIR A..MOXD QUITS LIBERAL PARTY. TO JOIN CONSERVATIVE RANKS (United Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, Jan. 25. ; Sir Alfred Mond lias severed his connection with the Liberal Party and joins the Conservatives^;,,, Sir A” .Mond intends "to" apply for •the -Chiltern Hundreds, rind seejk -a ,seat'"iir-th©-House- of Commons as a Conservative for Carmarthen or . elsewhere. t ' • Lords Oxford and Asquith arrived in London to-night. He declined to comment on Sir A. Mond’s decision, which he regarded as a political senstation.

LIBERALS DRIFTING FROM DAD TO WORSE.

LONDON, Jan. 25. Sir A. Mor.d’s letter of resignation says the position of the Liberal Party lias been drifting from bad to worse. He declares that lie had hoped the recent compromise on the land proposals would secure a measure of agreement, but the resolution of the National Liberal Executive submitted to the Land Convention was so framed that it revives-a policy of the nationalisation of agricultural land, to which he is unalterably opposed, and the fact that Lord Asquith has apparently consented to the resolution proves the divergency of his views with those of his leaders on a point of a fundamental principle.—Reuter.

BLAME PLACED ON LLOYD GEORGE. (Received Jan. 26, 11 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 25. Sir A. Mond, in a letter to Lord Asquith announcing his decision, said: "All efforts to revivify and reorganise the Liberal forces were rendered hopeless by the introduction of Mr. Lloyd George’s land policy, which produced a new and profound cleavage in the Liberal ranks. He announced liis intention to join the party with which he could most usefully co-operate, namely, the Conservatives.”—Reuter.

A STINGING RETORT. “GONE TO HIS OWN PLACE.” ’ LONODN, Jan. 25. Mr. Lloyd George, interviewed by the Daily Express, said: “I am not the least surprised. Sir A. Mond has obviously been making tracks for tlie Tory party. The land policy is only an excuse. The real reason is that tlie Liberal party offers jioor prospects to an ambitious man. Like another notorious member of his race, he has gone to his own place.”—A. and N.Z.O.A.