16 FEBRUARY 1924, Page 2

The intense dissatisfaction of the Lancashire Unionists with the conduct

of the recent General Election was expressed at Manchester last Saturday at a large meeting of Lancashire and Cheshire delegates, presided over by Lord Derby. The meeting decided to appeal to Mr. Baldwin not to include Protection in the party programme, and to demand a better liaison between the Central Office and the organizations in the constituencies. The delegates manifested some unnecessary nervousness in voting that the meeting should be private. Even though the Press was excluded, however, no very fiery attack upon the Central Office developed. Neverthe- less, what was said about the shortcomings of the Office was not the less effective for the absence of frenzy. Colonel F. S. Jackson expressed some resentment at not having been invited to speak till the end of the meeting, although the Central Office had been so freely criticized.