Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7th., 1931. THE NEW CABINET.

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1931, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7th., 1931. THE NEW CABINET.

MacDonald made a good job of his allocation of Cabinet officials. There were so many candidates to choose from, with similar qualifications, that definite choice was not easy, particularly as the susceptibilities of three Parties had to be considered, to say nothing of tariff and free trade doctrines. Some few men were obvious inclusions, hut the majority of the others are no better, —and no worse, —than some of the unsuccessful. The new Cabinet should he able to*produce results beneficial to the country, and must do so if “team” work is dominant. Mr. Baldwin has taken a minor office, but he will be the real leader of the Ministry, if only because of the Conservative majority in the House. It will be no surprise should Mr. MacDonald, eventually resign the Prime Ministership. The financial crisis once over, he will not I

be too happy with his present mixed following. His health, too, appears to be paying the penalty for hard work he has carried on during recent years, and he may accept a less responsible post/ Mr. Neville Chamberlain has been Chancellor of the Exchequer before, 1923-24, but was not in that office sufficiently long to judge of his fitness to guide Britain’s financial destinies at this critical juncture. He will not want for advice, however, from experts, and as he is a leading- tariff reformer, his Budgets may shock free-traders. He may be all his friends claim, but it would appear that he owes most of his advance to his family associations.

The appointment of Sir J. Simon, as Foreign Secretary, was not predicted, but it may prove to be the wisest of all Mr. MacDonald allocations. Sir John has ample qualifications for the post, and should be a worth}’ representative of Britain at the many international gatherings lie will now have to attend. He will make considerable personal financial sacrifice in accepting Cabinet rank, as his earnings at the Bar are huge, there being a great demand for his sex vices, as counsel, or as arbitrator. Lord Hailsham should make a good head at the War Office, and something similar may be said of all the lesser Ministers. The present disposition to co-operate should minimise any friction arising from the clash of Party traditions, the tariff issue being the only danger. Much will depend on- the country’s trade recovery at to whether Protection becomes a really live question.

Congratulations to the new Cabii net members on their appointments i will be mingled with regret that i the Ministerial careers of such men as Sir A. Chamberlain, Mr. D. Lloyd George, and Mr. Winston Churchill, have apparently ended. Sir Austen has definitely retired, and Mr. Churchill is not expected to stage another come-back, although where he is concerned, anything may happen. His versatility is, at once his strength and ' his weakness. The opportunism of Mr. Lloyd George has served him, similarly. The Liberal ex-leader was a sick man during the recent political struggle, and this partly accounted for his absolute failure to grasp the situation. It is rarely he' has failed as a - political strategist, but he did nothing right during the electioneering campaign. To-day, he is without a following, and there appears little prospect of his return to power, unless the Conservative enthusiasm, for duties on imports leads to a counter crusade by Free Traders of all Parties, with Mr. George at their head. Sir Austen Chamberlain has performed good national service. He is probably disappointed that the Prime Ministership never became his, near as he was to it, but. on the whole, he received his fair share of honours. It is well that the political veterans should gradually make way for younger men, although it must be hard for 4ome accustomed to be in the lead, to be relegated to the background.