The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1940. EXIT A MINISTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 14, 17 January 1940, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1940. EXIT A MINISTER.

For the cause that lack* assistant*;. For ihe wrong that veeds resistance, Fcr the future in the dietance, And the good that tee can do.

At'lcr reading , tho of explanation—which 101 l so far short oL' providing , a full explanation— I'oncorninfr the sudden rcplacrnient of Mr. Moro-Brlisha, British people may be impressed chiefly by the great power which may be exercised by a Prime Minister. Here was a Cabinet. Minister occupying one. of the vitally important offices of State. He was young, energetic, a man of ideas who had proyed his ability to bring about considerable changes in one of the most conservative of British institutions. As far as the public wa.s aware, he had been an outstanding success; certain it is that no notorious failure had been associated with his stewardship. Ho had even Wen spoken of as a future leader of the British Government. Yet now, in consequence of Mr. decision, apparently made suddenly, he holds no office at nil, and tho War Office hass a new head, who, with the nation at war, has to "learn his job." For such a change some better explanation is needed than that given in the Houso of Commons yesterday, and without a doubt some better explanation would have been demanded but for tho fact that the Minister concerned was the War Minister and the country is at war. In these circumstances Mr Chamberlain was able to refuse to give an explanation in detail, to say little more than that he, as Prime Minister, felt that a change was necessary and that his judgment must be accepted.

The faet that Mr. Chamberlain's judgment was accepted, apparently without serious protest, indicates the command which he has over the House of Commons. It may indicate also an awareness in the House that although Mr. Chamberlain was unwilling or unable to give his reasons lor Mr. f lore-Bel izba's dismissal, good reasons existed. The Commons, irrespective of party considerations, is quick to resent and to challenge decisions which appear essentially unjust. It did not challenge this decision on that or any other ground; it tacitly acknowledged that the Prime Minister was entitled, if his judgment and conscience so directed him, to decide that "difficulties . . . arising out of the very great quality of my right honourable friend" made a change desirable. In taking this view the House could not but have in mind the character and record of the Prime Minister. He was for years bitterly assailed for his policy of "appeasement." It failed, but not because of him. Now, having been driven to the decision he dreaded most, the decision to lead the nation into war, he has dedicated himself to the one purpose of winning the war. "To that end," he said in his Mansion House speech, "I have subordinated everything else. ... From that purpose I will not be deflected, nor will I shirk my inevitable responsibilities in what I feel to bo right, no matter how difficult or even disagreeable they may be." It was a tribute to his purity of motive that the House evidently felt that the replacement of Mr. Hore-Belisha was one. of the "difficult and even disagreeable" tasks, the responsibility for which he was right not to shirk.