PARTY POLITICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17182, 27 October 1923, Page 2

PARTY POLITICS.

BRITISH UNIONIST CONFERENCE. MANY SUBJECTS TOUCHED.

By Telegraph—Press A*»oriation— Copyrtffht Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received October 27, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON. October 26. When the National Unionist Conference opened at Plymouth, there was an evident desire to avoid contentious subjects. A motion in favour of the abolition of the title “ Unionist ” was withdrawn. A discussion on the position of the Irish Loyalists was postponed. Liveliness marked the debate on the reform of the House of Lords. Lord Selbonrne strongly demanded thp repeal of the Parliament Act. Lady Astor declared that they would never get reform of the House of Lords so long as peers claimed the hereditary right to legislate. A motion asking the Government to immediately proceed with the reform of the House of Lords was carried. Viscount Curzon, in submitting a motion inviting the party to declare that the peace and prosperity of Britain can be based only upon an intimate and cordial understanding with France and the other Allies, emphatically denied that it was hostile to the Government Tf the Government were right that the French occupation of the Ruhr was illegal, they should have said so at first. He held no brief for France. He ..did not want Britain tied to Franee's coat tails, hut ho wanted a rapprochement. If Britain and France got together again, it would be possible to hold an Allied Conference to deal with the international situation. Mr Victor Fisher, in seconding the motion, demanded a free vote in order that the Government would be under no delusions regarding the Party’s feeling. Mr Ronald M’Neill intervened, and appealed that the motion he not taken to a division.

“ HIT IT!” THE SOCIALIST’S HEAD. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Reuter’* Telegram*. (Received October 27, 12.45 0.m.) LONDON, October 26. At the Unionist Conference. Lord Eustace Percy, M.P., said that the Government had. roughly speaking, awarded £8.000.000 compensation in respect of pre-truce claims, of which £3,120,000 was for personal injuries, and the balance for damage to property. In view of Mr Baldwin’s speech, the Conference agreed not to discuss the motion in favour of a return to effective tariffs. A series of resolutions was c.arriqd calling on the Government to devise means for the assistance of agriculture; to protect the rights of Trade Union minorities; to ensure that Trade Union policy shall conform to the legitimate functions of Trade Unionism; to grant pensions to widows with young children; to abolish or alter the income limit of old age. pensioners in order to ensure that thrifty workers shall not be penalised ; and demanding just compensation for losses sustained by the South Irish Loyalists. A resolution moved by Lady Astor in favour of raising the school leaving age to sixteen was rejected. The Conference concluded with a final word from the chairman (Sir Herbert Nield); “ Wherever you see a Socialist's head—hit it.”