BRITISH CONSERVATIVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24850, 25 February 1942, Page 6

BRITISH CONSERVATIVES

CHAIRMAN'S RESIGNATION ACCEPTED WITH REGRET RUGBY, Feb. 23. Sir Douglas Hacking, M.P., has tendered his resignation to Mr Churchill from the chairmanship of the Conservative Party, to take effect on March 6, the anniversary of his appointment. Mr Churchill, as leader of the party, has accepted the resignation with regret. Major T. L. Dugdale, M.P., the present vice-chairman of the party and a Government Whip, has been appointed chairman, and Colonel Harold Mitchell, M.P., will succeed him as vice-chairman. Informing Mr Churchill of his decision, Sir Douglas Hacking said that when Mr Baldwin appointed him to the office it was understood that the appointment was for the period of five years, and this was confirmed by Mr Chamberlain when he succeeded to the leadership of the party. On Mr Churchill's election he was asked to continue for another undefined period. He had completed six not uneventful years, and felt that the time had now come to make way for another. It was a tradition of the party that in times of war and national emergency party strife should be suspended, and he claimed that the self-restraint exercised by the Conservative Party during the war had materially contributed to the unity of all sections of the nation. In reply, Mr Churchill expressed gratitude for the help given him, and accepted the resignation with regret, remembering the loyalty and assistance given during his leadership of the party.