CONSERVATIVES' FAILURE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1929, Page 9

CONSERVATIVES' FAILURE

PARTY SUPPORTS LEADER CENSURE MOTION DEFEATED DEBATE ON EMPIRE TRADE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 8,40 p.m. London, Nov. 21. An attempt to hold a post mortem into the cause of the Conservative failure at the recent election was badly beaten at the annual conference of the Union of the Conservative and Unionist Association. Mr. W. Grant Morden, in moving for an independent committee to examine the working of the central office organisation in order to devise closer cooperation, expressed the opinion that the present methods were out of date. The leader of the party had more power than a Tammany boss. The conference’s resolutions were consistently disregarded, notably upon the reform of the House of Lords and the safeguarding of industry. They had faced the elections without a policy, therefore without a soul. Mr. J. R. Remer, in seconding the motion, mentioned that an additional handicap was the absence of Press support duo to the party heads deliberately embittering the newspapers. Sir William Ray deprecated the exhibition of feeling among members of the party. If the Archangel Gabriel was their leader he would be criticised, but he would blow his trumpet more loudly than Mr. Baldwin had. An amendment appreciating the appointment of a sub-committee to investigate the troubles was carried by a large majority. The mover, Mr. Herbert Williams, expressed the opinion that the only way to run a party was to elect a leader, then sit back or sack him, A long debate took place on Sir H, Page Croft’s motion favouring Imperial preference. Safeguarding, he said, should be in the forefront of the programme on which to educate the electorate with a view to success at the next election. They should also oppose the repeal of the McKenna duties. Mr. Boyce, an Australian who was elected to the House of Commons, said if the Dominions became weary of British vacillation and withdrew preferences British unemployment would be trebled overnight. There was a scene of indignation and excitement when Captain Pierrepont opposed the motion, saying it would be truer to say bam'boozle instead of educate the electorate. Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister said unemployment would be the test at next election and its only cure was better trade. Mr. James Gardner, who was a trades unionist for 40 years, declared: ‘Tf the Conservatives do not produce a bold policy of Imperial preference, do not be surprised if the Socialists do.” The motion was agreed to with only three dissentients. Mr. Neville Chambmerlain was elected president.