IN PERSPECTIVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 126, 29 May 1937, Page 9

IN PERSPECTIVE.

CABINET MEMBERS.

Mr. Chamberlain's Outstanding

Career.

EX-VICEROY'S HIGH POST

Mr. Neville Chamberlain makes the world's front news pages for the third time this year with his rise to the Prime Ministership. First, there was his bereavement in the death of his equally-famous brother, Sir Austen, who was a former Chancellor and Foreign Secretary, in March. Then, the following month he brought down his highly controversial Budget, the chief surprise of which—providing for an unprecedented levy of large profits for defence purposes—will be discussed for many years to come. Like his famous father, Joseph, and his brother, Mr. Chamberlain has always represented a Birmingham constituency. He was elected first in December, 1918, after serving two terms as Lord Mayor. He was rocketed into the Chancellorship in Mr. Baldwin's first Ministry, which lasted six months, in 1923-24. Less than a year later, Labour had fallen and Mr. Baldwin was back, Mr. Chamberlain becoming Minister of Health, which post he retained until the Government's election defeat of 1929. While in opposition in 1930, he secured passage of pensions, housing and rating legislation. On formation of the National Government in 1931, he followed the late Viscount Snowden, raised to "the peerage, in the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer. Holding this rank continuously since that date, he has introduced much epochmaking legislation, not the least important of which was the return to tariffs. Sir John Plays Golf. One of the most interesting of the rearranged Ministers is Viscount Halifax, who was created a baron before he inherited hie father's viscountcy. He served as Colonial Under-Secretary, President of the Board of Education (twice), Minister of Agriculture, Secretary for War, Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords, but is remembered principally for his difficult term ae Viceroy of India (1925-31), at the commencement of which he was made Lord Irwin of Kirby Underdale. His father, the oldest peer in the realm, died in January, 1934.

Sir John Simon, the new Chancellor, was one of the Bar's most brilliant advocates before his transition to the political stage. He served on numerous commissions and occupied both the Solicitor-Generalship and AttorneyGeneralship (the latter with a seat in Cabinet) before the war. He was Home Secretary during the war. but resimed and joined the Army, rising to Major. He was twice defeated at the polls before being returned in 1922. He was Foreign Secretary in the Nationalist Ministry, which he and a "roup of likethinking Liberals supported steadfastly, from 1931-35. He returned to the Home Secretaryship in the latter year, also assuming deputy-leadership of the House of Commons. At 63 he is one of the be*t golfers in the House. Sir Samuel Hoare, by contrast, is an expert tennis player and skater. He held Cabinet rank in Mr. Baldwin's two earlier Ministries, becoming successively Secretary for India, Foreign Secretary and First Lord of the Admiralty. Owing to great public indignation against his policy in resard to the Italo-Abyssinian war. he resigned the Foreign Secretaryship in December. 1935, but Mr. Baldwin appointed him to the Admiralty six months later.

Former Journalist's Rise. Mr. Leslie Hore-Belisha. another Icral luminary, basked in the spotlight through his strong reforms as Minister of Transport since 1934. in an intensive, sustained campaign throughout the nation to reduce motor accident fatalities. His "Belvsha beacons" are his memorials in London and other cities. He was formerly a journalist with the Beaverbrook Prefis. Dr. Leslie Burgin, who has been spoken of as "the Government's mouthpiece," is the House's finest linguist, being familiar with no less than eight languages. After five unsuccessful attempts, he was elected in 1929 for Luton, and his one Ministerial post has been that of Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (appointed in 1932). Mr. Alfred Duff Cooper, who is married to Lady Diana Manners, a daughter of a Duke of Rutland, and whose mother was a daughter of the first Duke of Fife, has been Secretary for War since November, 1935. His only other Ministerial service was as Financial Secretary to the War Office and also to the Treasurv. just prior to 1935. Mr. Oliver Stanley, a son of the snorting peer, the Earl of Derby, was Minister of Transport from 1933-34, without Cabinet rank. He achieved this status in the latter year, however, heading the Labour portfolio, which he gave up for the Board of Trade in 1935.