NO POLITICAL PACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18235, 31 October 1922, Page 7

NO POLITICAL PACT.

UNIONIST DENIAL.

CONSTITUENCIES LEFT l-REE.

PRE-COALITION BASIS.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. A. and N.Z. LONDON. Oct. 29.

Sir George Younger, organiser of the Unionist Party, in a letter to Unionist associations in every constituency of England and Wales, denies that any pr»ct exists between tho National Liberals and the Unionists regarding the contests at tho coming election. Local Unionist executives are left perfect freedom to select such candidates as they please, and the central office will cccept the locai decision.When arrangements are mark locally v/l.ereby both sides agree not to oppose ({.eh other the central office will accept the arrangement, but the has;*, is exactly tne same as was often done before the Coalition, each party acting on the assumption that it will get fair representation. WHY COALITION FELL. BARREN COMPROMISE POLICY A. and N.Z. LONDON, Oct. 29. Mr. J. L. Garvin, in an article in the London Observer explaining the collapse of the Coalition, states that there is no community, and never has been, where domestic interests are so profoundly Influenced by the success or inadequacy of our statesmanship in foreign and Imperial affairs. The differences within the Coalition meant organised stalemate, preventing any thorough consecutive policy toward France, Central Europe, Russia, Turkey, or the League of Nations, and therefore gravelv impeded the revival of trade and employment. Similarly r n domestic matters the Conservative and Liberal elements either supported flatly contradictory policies in turn, as in the case of Ireland, or reduced each other's commercial measures to a series of washedout compromise. The Coalition was created for national unity, which it never achieved; for national energy, which it devitalised; for plans of reconstruction, which it scrapped ; for commercial recovery, which it retarded. "BURDEN OF TAXATION. NO IMMEDIATE RELIEF. A. and N.Z- LONDON, Oct. 29. Mr. Stanley Baldwin. Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking at Worcester, said that taxation could only be reduced bv lessened expenses. That was the gieat task before the Government. The late Government made efforts to reduce taxation, and so far as those efforts were successful the new Government would reap the benefit, but the Government could not mako such & reduction in a moment, so that the people could get it reflected in reduced taxation. He believed it would be a squeeze it balance next year's. Budget. LLOYD GEORGE'S TOUR. POPULARITY IN SCOTLAND. A. and N.Z- LONDON, Oct. 29. Mr. Lloyd George's special train from Glasgow to Edinburgh, where h» spent the week-end with the Earl of Balfour at Wittinghame, was cheered ill along tne route by crowds lining the railways. Mr. Lloyd George was compelled to deliver speeches wherever the train stopped. The streets of Edinburgh were thronged with people enthusiastically cheering him as he drove slowly as in & triumphal procession to Wittinghame. POST FOR SECRETARY. SUEZ CANAL DIRECTORSHIP. United Service. LONDON. Oct. 29. The Times understands that Mr. J. T. Davies, Mr. Lloyd George's private secretary, has been appointed to a directorship on the Suez Canal Board which has been vacant for two years. The appointment is in the gift of Treasury.

MR. MASSEY AND BONAR LAW. FELICITATIONS DEFERRED. [b7 TELEGBAPH.—SPECIAL BEPOBTEB.] WELLINGTON Monday. As the Prime Minister of New Zealand had sent a message to Mr. Lloyd George on that statesman's resignation from the office of Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. R. McCallum (Wairau) to-day expressed the opinion that Mr. Massey should now send a message felicitating Mr. Bonar Law on having succeeded Mr. Lloyd George. Mr. Massey did not'think it would bo wise to send the message suggested. " I have thought about the he said, "but I hesitate to interfere with what might appear to be party politics in Britain at this stage." 1 Mr. McCallum could not see why Mr. Bonar Law should not be treated as Mr. Lloyd George had been treated. Mr. Massey replied that the position of Mr. Boriar Law was different from that of Mr. Lloyd George, and there was a danger that a message to the former might be circulated in Britain for party purposes. Ho knew Mr. Bonar Law very well. " I will go the length of saying," said Mr. Massey, " that along with Mr. Lloyd George he is a personal friend of mine. If he is returned with a majority I believe he will be a very good Prime Minister. If Mr. Bonar Law continues to havei-a majority I might be justified in sending him a message."