BRITISH LIBERALS.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16816, 7 June 1926, Page 5

BRITISH LIBERALS.

THE PARTY BROKEN,

BUT MR LLOYD GEORGE RETRAINS.

OVERTURES TO LABOUR PARTY,

(Australian and N.Z. Press Assn.) LONDON, June 6.

“ I may lie driven from the Liberal ‘ Shadow Cabinet,’ but I cannot be driven from (tie Liberal platform,’’ sums up Mr Lloyd George’s latest speccli in his own words, says flic Sunday Express. There is no doubt that in the fight for Liberal voters Mr Lloyd George will win. The Observer remarks that, the Earl of Oxford and his colleagues have broken the party.but cannot break Mr George. Mr W. M. R. Pringle, formerly Liberal M.P. for Yorkshire (West Riding), in a speccli at Blclchlcy Park repeated the allegation that overtures had been made by Mr George to the Labour Party. It was true they were unofficial but they did occur. The basis of the soundings was that there was likely to be a breach between Mr George and bis colleagues owing to bis attitude over the general strike. He was willing to go over to the Labour Party on condition that it accepted his original land policy and that he was Minister in charge of Lands in the next Labour Government. Mr George was also willing to bring his political fund over to Labour. The overtures were rejected said Mr Pringle. A Fighting Speech.

A fighting speech was delivered byMr Lloyd George at a luncheon given by.the Manchester Reform Club. He said the present split in the Liberal Party was unworthy of the dignity of a great party. It was not a real quarrel but a rotten quibble over a miserable and childish pretext. If they meant to turn a man out of the Liberal Party because he was on the side of conciliation for millions of British workmen in a great dispute then, on that proposition, lie would fight right through to the end. He had not had a square deal nor been allowed to speak for himself. The sentence which had been passed upon him driving him out from the councils of the party was contrary to the elementary principles of British justice and fuirplay. Ho had no intention of accepting his dismissal from the Liberal Party. Mr George said he saw no signs of his being driven from the leadership of the party in the House of Commons. He meant to get on with the job lie had in band. lie wanted to see a revival of regeneration, contentment, happiness and prosperity about the country.