THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 172, 14 April 1908, Page 7

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

DIFFICULTIES OF REGISTRARS. ' CM', tkmigbai-h—phebs' association.) Christchurch, April 13. , An examination of several of the electoral rolls'noiv in course of preparation reveals that public interest in the next election is being awakened.. ■ Large numbers of applications for enrolment' and'■ transfers from other electorates are being dealt ' with daily, and the Registrars, in ■ the city electorates; particularly, are : kept hard: at work making the necessary - alterations ; and additions. .; Tho alteration of boundaries has caused a great deal- of confusion, ' and Registrars complain that they are put to no end of trouble answering inquiries from people who do not know how they have been affected' by ,tHe chariige. Two Registrars who, were approached !by a " Press " reporter stated that the maps supplied did not , enable thorn to give information to" people-'oUtside .'their own districts, beyond pointing out: that they could not bo put on the roll in . respect to which they were making i application. - -They suggested that in tlie'cities thero should bo a central bureau at which information regarding the city and impinging country electorate should be available for-, people desiring to enrol or transfer. It.was stated; that the Government does not intend to mako'a house-toJiouso canvn3s. this year, the reason suggested being that the work will bo thoroughly done by the contending parties on the question of• no-license. It was also :'suggested that • these parties would, when tho time for hearing objections arrived, attend to the purging of tho rolls, .and a hint was (riven that there, would 'bo hundreds, if not thousands,.of objections on the, city electorates. .. .

Mr. H. A. Fox, until recently sales manager of Messrs. Yerex, Barker, and Finlay, Ltd., hasbought out that Company's system department businoss. and. it will be carried on under the style of the Office Appliance Company, in . the same premises as at presont. The' stocks ar? ; very comprehensive, and will be fully maintained. For onei month from date 10 per' cent, discount for cash 011 delivery is boing offered, as an introduction. The cash resistor business will be carried on by Yerex, Barker,, and Finlay, ltd., throughout New Zealand, as heretofore, in accordance witlv tho specially expressed desire of the National Cash Register Company, U.S.A.—(Advt.) • . , COATS , AND. SKIRTS. .Mrs. Male. Specialist in Coats and Skirts, • Woodward ; Stret, is showing Autumn Materials and- Burberry's Gamefeather Tweeds. C 733 ENFIELD 15 H.-P., MOTOR CAR. • To discriminate is to decide. This well-known model is • replete ' with all those refinements which road experience . can suggest, and which critical drivers desire. «. Gate System of Change Speed Gear. Metallic Multiple Disc Clutch. Simple Control. Unique Accessibility. Provisions for Easy Adjustment. A Car of tho First Class, Popularly Priced. New Zealand Agents :-INGLIS BROS., Willis Street, Wei- • lington. Tolephone Nos. 1010, 2441, 2711, P.O. Box 68. Garage, Harris Stroet, Wellington. Branr.b Depot at Chrißtchuroh.—Advt,

CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUEUR. ■Mr. David', Lloyd : George, tho idolised loader of the Welsh Liberals, tho fighting politician of Freetrade and Noncomformity, the capable and vigorous' Cabinet Minister was born at Manchester in 1863. . At his first school, Lloyd-George distinguished himself by organising' among his fellow-pupils a successful boycott of tho examinations; in which the clerical managers ,had put questions which were taken as insulting to Nonconformity. He was afterwards sent to tho University - College at Aberystwith, where he passed tho preliminary examination necessary before entering the legal profession wljen' ho was fourteon. In 1890 he was sent, to Parliament as Liberal member'for the Carnarvon Boroughs. He continued to represent" that electorate until he first became prominent in the Houso by his persistent opposition, to tho Clergy Discipline Bill in 1892. Tho year 1899 found'him offering an uncompromising opposition l to • the Boer war in all , its stages. He consistently voted against the supplies which were demanded to carry on a war which he denounced as unjust.. Feeling ran high in tho electioiV of '1900, and Lloyd-Georgo was'felled to the ground by the bludgeon' of an infuriated patriot, in tho streets of Carnarvon. Nevertheless' 'he was elected for the fourth timo amid great enthusiasm. He was;the central figure of some exciting scenes during the proBoer agitation. During the next three years, Mr. Lloyd-George, on the platform, and in the House- of Commons, did work which placed him among the two or three men who contributed most to the Liberal victory at the 1905 election. He won from the. Unionist At-torney-General tho admission that ho was the ablest critic of Mr. Balfour's Education Act. Among the speakers in the cause of Freetrade, as against Mr. Chamberlain's preference policy, none .were • more vigorous and effective than Mr. Lloyd-George. On Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's accession to offico in 1905,. Mr. Lloyd-Georgo became President of the Board of Trade, and here ho entered upon a new stage of a brilliant career. With his reputation for pugnacity and for revolutionary ideas, his ruio at tho Board of Trado was looked forward to by the commercial world with some apprehension;; few, indeed, believed that tho fiery Celtic temperament would scttlo down :to solid business. But his administrative ability has won tho highest praise on all sides. His tact as a conciliator settled the railways troublo, liis guiding hand smoothed tho way of tho Jlaritimo Conference, and ho piloted through Parliament the intricate. and important Merchant Shipping Act. Tho Port of London Bill lias added to his reputation, and his accossion to tho Chancellorship will win plaudits on all sides. Though tho cablegram states that all Ministers not mentioned retain their ■ offices, thero must be something wrong, as Lord Elgin has been succeeded by tho Earl of Crowe, and no mention is maao of Lord EI (Via receiving another post.

SECRETARY FOR THE COLONIES. The Earl.of Crewe, ; the Right Hon. Robert Offley Askburton Crowe-Milnes, Baron Houghton of: Great Houghton in; the County >of York, is. the son . of the poet, tho lato Monckton-Milrie, first Lord Houghton. Ho was bovn in, London on January 12, 1858, and received his education at Harrow and at Trinity ' College, Cambridge.'. His Lordship entered political life as unpaid-.private secretary .to tho'late Earl Granville, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, remaining in that position duriug' his chief's'term of office. He entored the House of Lords on the death ■ of his fathor,' in 1885, as Lord Houghton, and, a. year later, on the' formation of Mr. Gladstone's Government, became a Lord-in- ' Waiting, and represented the Board of Trade in the Upper House', In 1892, on tho return to power of the Liberal party, he was appointed Viceroy of . Ireland. The appointment created general; surpriso, as it was expected Lord Brassey would be chosen. Lord Houghtori was one of the youngest Viceroys in modern times. The honours of Dublin Castle were dispensed i.by his sisters, the wives of the Hon. Arthur Henniker and of Sir Gerald Fitzgerald, K.C.M.G; He was succeeded in 1895 by the Right Hon. Gerald Balfour. In 1905 he was. appointed, on the accession of the ; Liberal : Government, Lord President of tho Council. • Lord Crewe is described as " a Liberal, an art connoisseur, Something of a poet, a bibliophile, 1 a sportsman, and a man of wealth . and yet contrives to feel, at home in a Cabinet with Mr. Burns." In 1889 ho published "Stray Verses," and, from time to time, numerous articles on "Ireland." His Lordship is a: member of tho Jockey Club. In 1880 ho married a daughter of Sir Fredorick Graham, Bart. She died in 1887, leaving, him iawidower during his period of office as Viceroy of Ireland. He married again on April 20, 1899, his bride being Lady Margaret Primrose, youngest daughter of Lord Rosebery. His estate comprises'2s,ooo acres. So far he has no heir. It. is not clear that ho brings any special colonial'knowledge to \hif? now post of Secretary of State for tho Colonies. THE NEW PEERS. Viscount (Rt. Hon. John) Morley, Secretary for, India, began his career in , daily journalism-oil tho "Morning Star." Although for many years in Parliament, and ono of tho most polished orators in tho House, ho is supremely, tho man of letters. His "Life of Gladstone" was tho .great literary event of 1903. Had Mr. Morley-given his wholo time to politics, it is'possible that tho Primo Ministership would have been easily within his grasp. • \ " ~ -i - Viscount (Sir Henry) Fowler, Chancellor.of the Duchy of Lancaster, has held tho posts of Secretary to tho Treasury and President of tho-Local Government l Board under Mr. Gladstone. In Lord Rosebory's Ministry ho was Secretary of State for,lndia. , PROMOTED TO THE CABINET. Mr. Win.'.ton Spencer Churchill, P.C., aged 33 years, the. now President of tho Board of Trade, was a soldier at the age of 19,

.years. Ho is to-day one of the most conspicuous figures in public life. He saw the Spanish campaign in Cuba, and served with tlio British forces through Indian frontier wars. In the Soudan campaign of 1898 he rode in the 21st Lancers' charge.. Ho won distinction in the Doer war, sent home some of the most effective letters received, and was .raptured b.v the Boers, hut made a dramatic .escape. Since entering Parliament lie lias greatly improved as a debater, and, it is said, has reprod'isod that fearless independence of party which so distinguished his father, Lord .Randolph Churchill, whoso life lie has written. Lord Rosebery declares it to be "one of tlio best in the language.". Owing to the tariff split, ho left the Unionists and joined the Liberal party, and was appointed UnderSecretary for the Colonies in 1905. After a special tour in Bast Africa to extend his Colonial knowledge, he now goes from the Colonial Offic3 to the Board of Trade. The Unionists will do their utmost to defeat him when he goes to his constituents in NorthWest Manchester.', If they succeed the Libe-' rals will find tho new Cabinet Minister another seat. Mr. Churchill is already to the foro with his manifesto, promising, among other things, Uganda cotton for Lancashire mills. Mr. W. Runciman, 37 years of age, Liberal member for Dewsburj;,' has for somo time' been recognised as a- rising man' on the Government Bench. His position has been Financial Secretary to the Treasury, and lie has answered questions on foreign affairs in the absence of Sir Edward Grey. He is now promoted to Cabinet rank, and to the thorny position of President of tho Education Board, with Mr. M'Kenna's Bill as a legacy. He is a Methodist. His promotion should' result in sending him to his constituents, and it may comfort him to at the last election gave him a majority of 3805. OTHER MINISTERS. The President, of tho Council, in succession to the Earl of Crewe, is Lord Tweedmouth, tho second Baron, noted as the recipient of the Kaiser's letter. He served an apprenticeship in the House of Commons- as the Hon. Edward Marjoribanks beforo hi 3 father's death in 1894 sent him to the House of Lords. In the Commons he was mainly notod as Chi of- Liberal Whip. In' Lord Roscbery's Government ho was Chancellor of tho Duchy of Lancaster and Lord Privy, Seal. Ho is now First Lord of the Admiralty. Ho was for nine years an Alderman of tho London County Council. Ho is fifty-eight years of ago. ' ' . ■ V ■ ,Mr. Reginald M'Kenna, aged-, forty-four years,-who leaves tho Education Department to take tho post of Lord Tweedmouth as First Lord of the Admiralty, is a Norrconforntist and a Freetrader. He was called to the Bar ill 1887, and' lias represented North Monmouthshiro sinco.lß9s. From 1905 to 1907, Ho was Financial Secretary to the Treasury. He combinos a faculty for mathematics with a lovo of rowing, and has distinguished himself in tho schools 'and on tho river. , OUTSIDE THE CABINET. : Mr. (Francis I)yko Acland,, member ■ for Richmond (Yorks), is the eldest son of Mr. A. H. D. Acland, who was Vice-President of tho Committee of Council on Education! in Lord Rosebcry's Government. He has boon acting as Parliamentary private secretary to Mr. Haldane, Minister for War. Ho is aged thirty-four years: . ' Lord Lucas is Baron Lucas, of Lucas and Dingwall, aged thirty-two years. Ho has been acting as assistant private secretary (unpaid) to Mr. Haldane. ■ He was a special correspondent for " The Times •' ■in South Africa-during'the Boor..War. : ••'•••>' Mr. T. R. Buchanan is over sixty years of ago, and has been a consistent Liberal. ' He was mado Financial Secretary to tho War Office in 1905. He is a Glasgow man, and represents East Perthshire. Mr. Chas. E. H. Hobhouse, wli'o - will leavo the position: 'of. Under-Secretary for India, represents East' Bristol. . He was in Parliament .from 1892 to 1895, was- then ousted,and .woil his present spat in 1900.. : Sir.' Herbert L. Samuel, has. represented Cleveland-.. (Yorks) since 1902. As Under-Sec- ■ rotary; for the Home Department, ' lie:, has figured considerably in tho preparing of tho Children's Bill, and evidently .wishes to see it through. ■'' ...