THE LIBERAL PARTY

Southland Times, Issue 19461, 28 January 1925, Page 7

THE LIBERAL PARTY

INTERESTING REVELATIONS. INTERNAL STRIFE AND INTRIGUE. THE LEADERSHIP PROBLEM. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. 1 (Australian and N.Z. Cable .Association.l LONDON, January 27. (Received January 27. 9 p.m.) The enormous cost of party politics in Britain is shown by the report of Sir Donald Maclan’s committee on Liberal reorganisation, in which it is estimated that the annual income necessary for the efficient associations in 600 constituencies, including a general election every three years, is £390.000. The large central fund is also required for the purpose of national propaganda and supervision of local work. It is recommended that one third of the officers of the executive committees in a constituency association should be under the age of 35 years, and expenses should be alowed to enable workers to attend meetings from a distance. The political correspondent of the Daily Express affirms that the appointment of Sir Donald Maclan’s committee was originally a device on the part of the Aaquithians to checkmate Mr Lloyd George in the leadership. It was hoped to find a seat for Mr Asquith while the report was being prepared, thus averting the necessity for the appointment of a deputy leader. The safe seat could not be found, so it was concluded that Mr Asquith’s leadership could be retained by his having a seat in the House of Lords instead of the House of Commons. The writer emphasises that Mr Asquith had no part in these plottings, and concludes : “Should the intrigues not be stamped out at the forthcoming Liberal convention, we may see an astounding political development. Mr Lloyd George will now have to decide whether he will continue to submit to the indignities to which he has been consistently subject, or whether he cannot render greater service to his party by leaving it, than by leading it.”