“NOT MY LEADER.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 November 1924, Page 5

“NOT MY LEADER.”

LLOYD GEORGE OPPPOSED. PROMINENT LIBERAL’S STATEMENT. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT LONDON, Nov. 15. All the party organs are speculating as to the effect of the statement by Captain Wedgwood Benn (Liberal) that the people have no confidence in Mr. Lloyd George. “I desire to say plainly,” he said; “that I cannot acknowledge in any way, direct or indirect, Mr. Lloyd George as my leader in the House of Commons..”

If Captain Benn’s opinion is shared by the other Liberal ’ members of the House of Commons, then obviously the Liberal Party in the House, small as it is, will divide and the new movement for the reorganisation of the Liberal forces throughout the country would be seriously impeded. The Daily Chronicle declares that Captain Benn’s action at a moment when unity is so essential among the little band of Liberal M.P.’s, has aroused general resentment. The Daily Herald (the. Labour paper) says the pact worked badly for the Asquithians, but favourably for the Lloyd Georgians, at which the Asquithian wing is angry. Mr. Lloyd George, having secured a majority in the attenuated Parliamentary Party, is now playing for leadership and control. The Morning Post observes that dissension had arisen as soon ?s Mr. Asquith’s back was turned. CONTROVERSY CONTINUES.

LONDON, Nov. 16. The controversy regarding the Liberal leadership continues. The Sunday Express points out' that if Mr. Lloyd George becomes the leader of the Parliamentary Tarty, Mr. Asquith will still be leader of the party throughout the country. It is stated that Mr. Lloyd George provided £50,000 for election purposes out of the National Liberal fund. He was asked for £IOO,OOO, in which case the Liberals would have run 500 instead of 300 candidates.