“LLOYD GEORGE FUND.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20283, 16 December 1927, Page 11

“LLOYD GEORGE FUND.”

USED TO BUY NEWSPAPER PROPERTIES. LONDON, December 2. Mr Lloyd George, in an official statement replying to criticisms concerning the origin and disposal of the “ Lloyd George Fund,” says that it was collected in a similar way to every political fund. He had had no information when dealing with honours during the time that he was Prime Minister whether the recipients had or had not subscribed to the party funds. He had not been consulted regarding the administration of the fund, except on large questions of policy. Most of the fund, the amount of which had been fantastically exaggerated, was used to acquire certain newspaper properties. The part ho personally played in the administration was confined to close attention to and direction of those newspapers and their subsequent sale. In repudiating insinuations that some of the fund had been used for his personal use, Mr Lloyd George says that since he left office he has worked hard at journalistic work for a livelihood. His articles have appeared in all parts of the world, and his remuneration from them has been greater in four years than was the aggregate amount of his salary in 17 years of office.