NEW MINISTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 131, 16 March 1936, Page 5

NEW MINISTER.

THE PREMIER’S REASONS. AVOIDING MISUNDERSTANDING. (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 12.25 p*m.) LONDON, March 15. The Prime Minister’s choice of Sir Thomas Inskip for the new Cabinet position, that of Minister for co-ordin-ation of Defence, was unexpected m political circles, and comment m the newspapers this morning is largely expressive of this surprise. Except, however, for one or two doubts expressed whether the new Minister, who is known chiefly as an able lawyer and a doughty champion against reform o. the Prayer Book, has sufficient imagination and receptiveness to new ideas for the great task which lies, before him, Ihe selection generally is well received. It is recognised that the overmastering consideration in the Prime Minester’s mind in rejecting the other candidates whose names had been canvassed widely in the last few weeks, has been the desire that the new Minister should not have had previous political connections with one or other of the defence departments, nor be prominently associated in the public mind with particular international policies, so that, as “The Times” says, his appointment at this particular momentin the world’s affairs might be misunderstood or misrepresented.—British Official Wireless.

Sir Austen Chamberlain and Mr Winston Churchill both spoke at Birmingham, Sir Austen Chamberlain expressing the regret of a great many people—that Mr Churchill had not been made Minister for Defence. Mr Churchill sat expressionless, and later declined to make any comment. Sir Thomas Inskip, speaking at Southampton, said that he was aware that his appointment had caused surprise. He declared that he was not Minister for' Defence, liis duty being to co-ordinate defence measures. Lord Strabolgi, in an interview, declared that the appointment was grotesque, and said that a lawyer was not the man for the job. Tlie Solicitor-General (Sir Donald Somervell) succeeds Sir Thomas Inskip as Attorney-General. Mr T. J. O’Connor succeeds Sir Donald Somervell.