MR. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 73, 29 March 1910, Page 8

MR. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN.

THE VETERAN'S RETURN TO ST. STEPHENS. SWEARING IN OF MEMBERS. (From Our Own Coriespondent.) LONDON, 18th Febiuaiy. The (hief business at the House of Commons this weak wai the election of Air. Lowther as Speaker, and then the formal taking of the oath by the new membeis. The principal incident of ! Wednesday was the visit of Air. Joseph Chamberlain, who, although .stricken by illness, name down to the House and was assisted to take the oath, a proceeding which was the subject of gene- | ral and sympathetic- <omnient among members of all pailies. The scene is thus de-tribed by a Parliamentary writer : — "Just after 4 [ o'clock one of the clerks at the table lose, and stepping forward to the Clerk of the House, Sir Courtcuay Ilbert, as he was administering the oath, whii--pered a few words. Even while hf> was speaking. Mr. Chamberlain entered the House from behind the Speaker's chair. At oiu c silence fell. Instinctively the general conversation ceased, and every member present turned his gaze, fixedly but sympathetically, upon the littlr group that hnd just entered. For Mr. Chamberlain it was, though sadly, changed incited from the familiar figure who used to stride into the House with *wift. eager step, casting quick glances from side to side, and rallying the spirit and confidence of his supporter* wherever his look might fall. FATHER AND SON. I "He leaned on the arm of Mr. Austen ! Chamberlain, his son, while in hit! left hand he carried a walking-stick. Loul Morpeth, the newly-appointed Unionist Whip, was ulso dose l>C3ide him. Tho trio slowly passed\down the fide of the table, and Mr. Chamberlain was jismslI od to v seat on the Treasury Bench. As a Privy Councillor he was entitled to precedence over the other members waiting to be sworn, but such as stood near, of course, drew back. Sir Courtenay Ilbert approached with tho card which contains the oath, and, holding it bofore Mr. Chamberlain, recited what was to him the perfectly familiar formula. Mr. Chamberlain spoke, but his v»ords v.ei-e hardly audible in the galleiy.

Meanwhile ; Mr. Austen Chanibeilain was writing his father's name in the roll of Parliament, and when he had finished he brought the book, held it befoie his father, and, placing the pen with which he had signed in his father's left hand, touched the signature with the p*n. It was the attestation of validity. Mr. Chamberlain had signed the roll of the new Parliament. "As he rose to his feet, Sir Courlenay Ilbert pronounced the word of formal introduction to the Speaker. 'Mr. Chamberlain.' The Speaker leaned forward with a smile of sympathetic welcome. 'I am very glad to see you back again,' he raid, with outstretched hand, and Mr, Chamberlain, still leaning on his son's arm, held out his left hand in response. He acknowledged the greeting with a few mummied word*. and moved slowly from the House. As soon cs Mr. Chamberlain's presence was made known in the lobby, there was naturally a general movement of members towards the Chamber, but the number of those present was not large, and the incident only occupied a very few minutes. AFTER FOUR YEARS. "The right hon. gentleman had not crossed the portals of the Chamber since he was &tricken with illness in July, 1906, a few days after the great public celebration of his seventieth birthday at Bhmingham. His last speech in the House of Commons was on Mr. Birrell's Education Bill, and was delivered on 27th June of that same year. It will readily be recalled with how much fire and energy he led the Opposition at the opening of the last new Parliament in 1906, during the short period that Mr. Balfour was without a seat, and ,it shows his indomitable spirit that he determined to take the oath and sign the roll as member for West Birmingham in the new Parliament of 1910. "What would lie not give to have the strength once more to take his place on the front Opposition bench, and attack with all his old brilliancy the Government of the day ' What would not his party give to have him back ! A famous master of the art of war used to count himself as being worth 100,000 men to his side. Mr. Chamberlain would be worth a hundred members to the Unionist Party. And — for it is a tradition of English politic!! to be generous to opponents who have been touched by Fate — what would not Ministevs give to have their old foemen confronting and accusing them across the table ! There have be«n few more touching things in the recent political history of this, or any other country, than the physical incapacity of Mr. Chamberlain at the moment when his whole mind burns to be thrown into the fray." Efforts are being made by the St. John Ambulance Association to form a New Zealand Priory, with its headquarters in Wellington. Steps in that direction were made at a conference in ChrUtchurch of delegates from the two principal centres. Wellington and Dunedin were each represented by three delegate*, Christchurch by four, and Auckland by two. It was decided to obtain from the Prince of Wale?, the Grand- Prior, a charter, which wonio. practically make New Zealand sellgoverning as far as ambulance matters weie concerned. The Dominion's Priory would probably be composed of the Governor at the heid of affairs, the Primate, and associates and workers of the Order. An enjoyable day was spent at Plimmerton by the employees of the New Zealand Express Company, I^d., to gether with about twenty of the Cbri.*tchurch representatives of this firm, in all numbering about hixty. Mr. T. S. Young, local manager of the Wellington branch, was present. The main features of the day were sports, which included running, jumping, and a tug-of-war, the latter being won by the Wellington team. The members of the Ohrifltchurch branch left for home last night. , Under the aufipiccs of the Spiritual Band of Helper*, Wellington Hall, Boulcottutreet, to-night, Madame Norciica will devote tRe evening in answering written perHonal ant'stions, and will also give mehh»«eß f-vm floweis and ai tides placed on the tabU.