POLL URGED

Evening Star, Issue 23349, 19 August 1939, Page 16

POLL URGED

“TIRED MINISTERS" IN BRITAIN STRENGTH OF CABINET QUESTIONED LONDON, August 10. There is speculation whether the British Parliament will continue to run the full, length of the terra left to it, whether an election will be held in the autumn without previous alterations in the Cabinet, or whether Mr Chamberlain will broaden the basis of the Government before the election whenever it is held. An editorial published, in .The Times’ and. headed “Tired Ministers,” bus given rise to the speculation. , . . 1 The Times ’ expresses the opinion that Mr Chamberlain is probably right in thinking that drastic changes at the moment in the Cabinet might actually have retarded what ‘ Tne Times ’ describes a® bis “ great efforts after security.” It adds that these efforts are “so much more impressive to foreign nations than any mere gesture, but he can hardly suppose that his Government is the strongest that the country can produce or that several of its members would not be all the better for a rest.” “ THE SOONER THE BETTER.” Nevertheless there is not as much speculation now as there was when ‘ The Times ’ made somewhat similar observations in May. ‘ The Times ’ argues that there must bo an end of the notion that no member of the Government could retire because he needed a rest, unless he were prepard to abandon public life. ‘ The Times ’ believes that, failing some stupendous crisis,' the sooner an election comes the better.. “ A jaded Parliament is, happily, easier to renew than a jaded Government,” it adds. “ It is deplorable if there is any disposition to find an analogy , for a postponement in the recent decision of the French Chamber of Deputies to prolong its own existence by legislation Not only does the House of Commons need the fresh support of the constituencies, but a new. Parliament is the most natural occasion for any wholesale reconstruction of the Government,” Regarding the chief points of the election speeches, ‘ The Times ’ —and probably the vast majority of the public—concludes: “ No doubt there are certain topics of domestic controversy, such as old-age pensions and agriculture, that are sure to figure in the election speeches, but it is prettv safe to say that the main subject will bo the Prime Minister himself.”