South Paddington
The by-election campaign in South Paddington is, when we write, as mad a teaparty as ever. Lord Rothermere's United Empire Party formally withdrew from the contest a few days ago in recognition of Sir Herbert Lidiard's promised revolt against the Unionist Party Whips, but the United Empire Party candidate, Mrs. Stewart Richardson, informally, but very firmly, remained. Meanwhile, Sir Herbert Lidiard has made statements which encourage orthodox Unionists to think that the ban of the Central Office could safely be removed from his candidature. Evidently the South Paddington Conservative Association desires a recon- ciliation. It has passed a resolution in which occur the words "Only by loyalty to the Party in the House of Commons can any policy -of Empire Free Trade be carried
to a successful conclusion." And elsewhere the resolution declares that Sir Herbert Lidiard "will, if elected, press the Conservative Party to use its best endeavours to promote an Empire trade agreement." Unfortunately for reconciliation it is pointed out that the resolution must be considered together with a speech which Sir Herbert made to the local Conservative Association before it passed the resolution. What that speech precisely contained nobody outside knows. Perhaps even those who were present do not correctly remember. All this is discreditable and ominous for the immediate future of the Unionist Party. Such silly muddling is rare even in local politics.
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