BRITISH POLITICS

Otago Witness, Issue 3593, 23 January 1923, Page 48

BRITISH POLITICS

DISPUTE OVER PARTY FUNDS. LONDON, January 17. The Daily Mail states that a remarkable situation may develop out of a law action which has arisen regarding the control of the Conservative Party’s funds. Lord Farquhar (one of the three trustees in whose control they are vested) has refused his consent to their use by Mr Bonar Law’s Party. He takes the view that he is a trustee for the party of which Mr Chamberlain was leader, and as Mr Chamberlain is not the leader of the^ present party, Lord Farquhar declines to part with any money which is required now to meet the expenditure on the recent elections. It will be remembered that when the new Parliament met Mr Chamberiain counselled his followers to support Mr Bonar Law, though he expressed ills belief that a coalition with the Liberals ultimately would be necessarv. < January 19. The dispute regarding the Conservative Party funds has been settled. Lord Farquhar says that as soon as the affair was published he saw Mr Bonar Law, and told him he, as leader, could have the entire fund, saying: “I have brought enough with me to meet immediate claims.” Lord Farquhar explains that he merely resented Sir George Younger’s intervention. LABOUR CANDIDATE RETURNED. LONDON. January 18. The by-election for the East Newcastle seat, rendered vacant by the death of Mr J. N. Bell, resulted as follows: Mr Arthur Henderson (Labour) ... 1f,066 Major H. Barnes (Independent Liberal) 6,489 Captain R. Gee, V.C. (Conservative) 4,384 [At the general election in November last, the polling was: J. N. Bell (Labour), 10,084; Major H. Barnes (Independent Liberal), 6999; G. Stone (National Liberal), 6273.]