FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1923. CONSERVATIVE WEAKNESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 4

FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1923. CONSERVATIVE WEAKNESS.

If it is true that Sir Robert Home, Chancellor of the Exchequer in the last Government, dues not mean to come to ' the help of Mr. Stanley Haldwin. the new Prime Minister will have cause to remember his remark to the journalists, , that he needed prayors rather than congratulations. Not that Sir Robert Home is an indispensable genius; we are not considering bis refusal by itself, but its significance as an indication of the difficulty Mr. Haldwin may have in closing up the ranks of the party nnd inducing the best talent to servo under him. The party has a comfortable majority in the House of Commons, but it is weak in administrative and debating ability -much weaker than our necessarily abbreviated reports of tbe debates show. The Opposition parties are unusually strong in debute, and they include several men who have liad experience of high office. The London correspondent of tbe -Christian Science Monitor." in a dispatch sent six weeks ago. said the Government side had only one representative who rose above the commonplace, and that was Mr. Bonar Law. -They have been not only almost helpless in the face of their critics whenever ho is away, but have been obliged in consequence to so overwork him as to add to the overwhelming burdens ' already placed upon hia shoulders as Prime Minister"—a statement to which Mr. Bonar Law's subsequent breakdown in health gives special interest. This estimate may do less than justice lo men like Mr. Raldwin and Mr. Amery, but only a Unionist "die-bard" would deny that debating honours are with the Opposition. Mr. Ramsay MaeDonnld, Leader of the Opposition, is a first-class debater, and be has some gifted colleagues, especially among the "intellectuals'' of the party. The Independent Liberals have Mr. Asquith, whose powers show small decline, and Sir .Tolin Simon, who may be Prime Minister some day if the. Liberal party can achieve unity; on the (iovernment side there is no one, except Mr. Bonar Law, who can cross swords with these two veterans. Then there is Mr. Lloyd George, tbe waning of whose prestige lias not affected bis powers of oratory. This inferiority in debate is a serious handicap. It is true that Government consists of something more than talk, but the English Parliamentary system is founded on discussion, and the electorate is eventually infillenced by the verbal battles in tbe House • of Commons. I If Mr. Baldwin cannot enlist the help i of the ablest of the Unionists who have , stood aloof from the Government, his jj position will be most difficult, and may I soon become impossible. Mr. Bonar I j Daw will be unable for an indefinite period to take part in debate. The new ( Prime Minister is comparatively a new ' man, and he lias not one colleague who ■ appeals lo the popular imagination, and'! no one in the House of Commons who has | a reputation for first-class ability. Sir!, Robert Home would strengthen the \ t Ministry, for as Chancellor of the Ex-1 ■ chequer be showed quality. So would Mr. Austen Chamberlain, in spite of the j fact that his ability is a good deal below! j first-class. Most of all, however, would i Lord Robert Cecil be an acquisition. ! Lord Robert has for some time stood |j apart, from both wings of the party, and' has given more and more time 101 l the league of Nations. No man in T"ng- ji land is more widely respected and ' trusted. Men of ail parties feel that he ' is disinterested as well as able, and his 1 name is known all over the world to,' those who take an interest in inter- U national affairs. It would be a great | "score" if Mr. Raldwin could persuade j' Lord Robert to take oflice: it would! x strengthen the Government's bold on ' 1 the electorate anil make it more fi-niid- ' able to. and more respected hi. its I' enemies. -Mr. Baldwin's first task is to!* strengthen bis Cabinet, and bis second is') to iind and put life into a policy that.t will restore conscience. Where the Government has really failed, wrote the ' correspondent we have quoted above,! 1 "has been that they have been unable either to touch the imagination of their ! , supporters or to awaken public en- ! ] thusiasm in any direction. . . . They i-• have now reached v condition of dis-' ' illusionmcnt. where they find it bard to ■ maintain zeal even among members of , their own party." Mr. Bonar Law's i poicv of "tranquillity" had a gootl deal " to commend it. but it was not sufficient F for the needs of the country, as the re- , versal of policy on the question of nous- - 1 ing has shown. Mr. Baldwin takes over ' the leadership under circumstances thaf. '■ would try anj- man', me_U_. I f