IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12364, 1 December 1905, Page 7

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

VIEWS OF LIBERAL STATESMEN. United Press Association—By ElectricTelegraph—Copyright. LONDON, November 29. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, address, ing an overflow meeting at Patrick, referring to Homo Rule, said ho had nothing to add to tho very moderate views expressed in his Stirling speech. Ho advocated that farm colonies bo maintained by tho community for the unemployed. Mr A-quith, at' Wisbech, unreservedly agreed with S. ; r Edward Grey. Pereonallv he did not believe Home Rule would bo part of tho policy of tho nest Parliament. Ho advocated tho reoonotruotion of tho Poor Law 6ystem, and reforms in the tenure and taxation of land. [In his latest letter to tho " Sydney Morning Herald," Mr H. W. Lucy discusses the composition of tho noxt Ministry. He says: —''It has-slowly, I thinlc, finally como to be reoogmsed that Sir H. campoell-Bannerman will be Prime Minister. Lord Rosebery, with occasional excursions into puoiio controversy, that serves to maintain his suDiemacy as a debater, ostentatiously pursues tho ploughing or liis lonely furrow. He will not accept offica in tho nejct Ministry, an additional reason why his personal following should havo. a largo sliare in the prizes of office. It __. pretty certain that the strongest wing of the Ministry it wil be C.-B.'s curious fortune to lead will be of Roseboryite complexion. There will bo several surprises in the allotment of office, it is generally understood that Mr Asquith's choioe is the Leadership of tho House of Commons. That necessarily implies the removal of C.-B. to tho House of Lards—a movement which tho right hon. gentleman most nearly concerned docs not regard with favourable glance. Failing that, Mr Asquith, I am told, will put in a claim for tho woolsack. Apart from the fact that Mr Haldano and Sir Robert Reid a c, in current speculation, bracketed in the running for that post, it seems a fetiango ambition for a still comparatively young man of Radical tendencies. Knowing Mr Asquith pretty intimately. I would not myself speculate on his hankering after tho woolsack. But the tip cornea from a high authority. There is probability of an even greater surprise in store for amateur Cabinet mafcere. Some doubt whether, at his time of life, to quote a familiar pbrase of Mr Gladstone's later yoais. Mr John Morley wou'd again submit to the yoke of Ministerial office. If he did the Presidency of tho Education Board has been named as an appropriate post. But the fo rncr Ch:- f f Secretary for Ireland, I am Vild, will h" fia f i c fi'd with nothing l<¥s than tho Chancellorship of the Exchequer. Thi/? crt.rnly b _ s tVe charm of the unexpected. Tt is hardly, perhaps, the po-t of a 1! of CiVnct rank which this gwit literary man miaht bo expected to desire. More natural is the OAniration of Mr Herbert Gladstone, who aspires to the Home Secretaryship. Such an appointment is not wi'Hbut ckse and rec-nt nreredent. The present incumbent. '■* the eßic n was for many '-ear? Chief. W' l . o *° *''<? Co*wrvatiro Party. Certainly Mr- Gladstone will n° f rontinu" in fae Wh'p's room, reofionnb'y con c idor"nrr f hi" 'ong service in the flbade '•f HnrKi-ition <vfablishes hi* cVm to fVvn*t wnufc. Tb>so eves, each li-.*t'i T, j_- w'th difficlty, suflPce to Hdieif* +,< " nv?«n' thfit nw.iifs Sir Hnnry CT'Tmb"H-"Ri r i ,, erman when ab hst he is commissioned to form a Ministry."]