BRITISH BY-ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20823, 16 March 1931, Page 9

BRITISH BY-ELECTION.

DIVIDED CONSERVATIVES.

BITTER FEELING SHOWN.

SECTION OF PRESS ATTACKED.

By Telegraph—Pres3 Association—Copyright, (Received March 15, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON', March 14,

The practice of indulging in personalities in the by-election campaign for the St. George's (Westminster) seat is increasing daily.

Wild scenes were witnessed in Caxton Hall, Westminster, when Sir Malcolm Campbell spoke on behalf of the Independent Conservative candidate, Sir Ernest Petter. He refuted a charge alleged to have been made by the official Conservative candidate, Mr. Alfred Duff Cooper, that he had been " bought by the press" to favour Sir Ernest. Sir Malcolm deplored the use of personalities and said he preferred sporting campaigns.

Mr. Cooper, in a letter to Sir Malcolm, denied having attacked him and said his meaning had been misconstrued Speaking at another meeting Mr Cooper made a vigorous attack upon Viscount Rothermere's and Lord Beaverbrook's newspapers. He asserted that clever writers, reporters and unscrupulous editors had twisted his meaning. Mr. J. C. C. Davidson, ex chairman of the Conservative Party, in a speech at Tring hinted at the possibility of legislation " to deal with this press evil." He said it was a pity that it should be necessary to deal with a numerically small minority—two individuals in fact—of the great press of which the country was justifiably proud.