MEMBERS RESIGN

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21653, 13 February 1942, Page 4

MEMBERS RESIGN

NATIONAL LIBERAL PARTY CRITICAL ATTITUDE vUnitPQ Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyngatj (Received Feb. 13, 3.15 p.m.) London, Feb. 12 Messrs L. Hore-Beiisha, E. L. Granville, and Dr. J. H. MorrisJones have resigned from tne National Liberal Party in order to take an independent and critical attitude to the Government. Dr. Morris-Jones and Mr Granville walked out of a private meeting of the party and then sent a letter of resignation, explaining that in the future they must take an independent and, if necessary, critical attitude in the House of Commons. The meeting intended to censure Dr. Morris-Jones and Mr Granville for their critical attitude, particularly in connection with the tabling of an amendment to the recent confidence motion. When Mr Hore-Belisha was speaking, Dr. Morris-Jones and Mr Granville, who explained they couid not accept the limitation of tneir actions by party ties and regulations, left the meeting. The letter says: “ For some time we have been convinced that something more than the present policy of tne Government is necessary to win the war. tor a year we nave taken the strongest action to plead for an Empire Cabinet with an eriective strategy, the reorganisation of production under a single Minister and the reconstruction of the Government. We believe that if this policy for which we fought had been carried out, then valuable lives and vital positions would have been saved and the worst series of events culminating in the grim situation at Singapore might have been avoided. Toaay we are facing the gravest situation in the history of the British Empire. Need for More Aircraft “ After declaring there was no place for party politics, the letter recalled their desire to obtain assurances for adequate air reinforcements for Malaya and Singapore and stressed the general need for more aircraft, which could only be achieved by a plan organising the whole resources under a single direction. “We believe this represents the feelings of our constituents and country,” concludes the letter. Mr Hore-Belisha resigned as a protest agains what he called the illiberal action of the party in calling to account Dr. Morris-Jones and Mr Granville.