BRITISH POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 137, 4 March 1908, Page 6

BRITISH POLITICS.

Although the latest advices represent Sir- Henry Campbellrßannerman as sufficiently recovered from his illness to mdke his convalescence and recovery': only 'a "mattei*- o.f time, it is not unreasonable to suppose that' ho will ultimately find it necessary to resign his post. In such an event he is certain to be succeeded as leader of his Earty by Mr. Asquith, and a redistriution oil portfolios will nece'ssarity follow. A Government which includes such a group of strong' and talented statesmen as Messrs. Asquith, Haldane, Lloyd-George, I Burns and Churchill, to name those members of the Ministry whose abilities are beyond question, whatever may be said of their political will certainly not ibe paralysed by the occurrence of one vacancy. But the Prime Minister's withdrawal from politics cannot take place without seriouß loss • to a Government already burdened with as many cares and anxieties as it can. carry. Sir Henry' in a very real measure lias been the rallying-point of Liberalism in Great Britain. Of his orthodoxy there has never been any doubt in the Liberal mind. What he believes, he proclaims with firmness and in.plain words. As a tactician, he has been a tower of strength to his party on the floor of the House of Commons. If, as a fighter, he is wanting in the brilliancy, of such men as Mr. Chamberlain, he lias the solid qualities of courage and dogged persistence.. . j -i ' • His retirement at the present ,junc : ture would, accordingly, be a misfortune for his party. The' engagements of the Government / are peculiarly heavy. Even if it were not committed to an assault upon the House of Lords, and the limitation of that Chamber's power of veto or destructive amendment, the legislative programme is long and arduous. The new. Education Bill has already been greeted with a general outcry and hostility sharp enough to daunt any Government. So far as our cable messages have told us, it seems to find less ■ favour from Anglicans, Nonconformists, and Catholics, than even Mr. Birrcll's famous measure. Licensing reform promises to prove a 'still more difficult task than the settlement of the education question. Our own experiences of the heat and fury engendered by licensing legislation, even legislation not of a radical character, make it easy to sympathise with a

British Government bent on making a I change lvhicli really is radical, and even revolutionary. The liquor trade interests are arming for a desperate conflict, and the temperance leaders are by no means full of unalloyed pleasure. The Government has undertaken to steer a course between the two extremes, and, unless it is attended by particularly good fortune, it is bound to excite the ill-will of both parties. As an English journal has 'said, the licensing question "is a tangled web, and one which will'require'all Mr. Asqiiith's skill, courage, and tenacity—qualities which we'admit he possesses in a high degree —to straighten out." Another large problem \\'hicli ' the Government has pledged itself to take in hand is the establishment of an old age pensions scheme. Whether the Ministry, as a whole or individually, have any deep conviction. of the wisdom of universal old age pensions is believed to be a matter of some'doubt. Yet they cannot now escape their obligation in the. matter. Some time ago it was credibly reported- that the pensions scheme, had resulted in a division of counsels ■ in Cabinet, and had thrown Mr. Haldane and Lord .Tweedmoutlr upon the defence of their military aiid naval budgets against the Chancellor of the Exchequer's .financial demands for the pensions system. The majority in the Commons on _ the pensions question is known not to be large, and in the House of Lords there is a strong majority against such a proposal. . > These proposals are . together , as' large a task as any British"'Government could'set itself for. one session. But there are. other Bills of first-rate importance to' be brought on. An Irish Land Bill has been promised, and it will light afresh all the old fires of Home Bule controversy; Other promised measures are an Irish University Bill, a Port of, London Bill, an Eight Hours' Day (Mines) Bill, a Housing, of the People Bill, a Town Planning Bill, an. English Valuation Bill, and the two Scottish Land ,Bills which the. Government has expressed itself as determined,to force upon the House of Lords. The session has barely started, and already the. strife has grown hot. It is clear that the Government will require .all its energy: and -skill ,to get through the ,session without disaster.