NEW BRITISH CABINET

Grey River Argus, 23 August 1945, Page 3

NEW BRITISH CABINET

MR ATTLEE’S SELECTIONS Favourable Comment LONDON, Aug. 15. Comment on Mr Attlee’s selection of his ministry is generally one of approval. There is little doubt that the new government will set about its giant task in an atmosphere of goodwill. This present absence of criticism is due to two facts. Firstly, that Labour has the clearest possible mandate' from the country and there is no mood to indulge in petty obstructions. Secondly, it is realised that the result of the election caused considerable surprise abroad and there is a general desire to avoid any suggestion that the country is divided against itself but rather that it is united in facing the difficult days ahead. Criticism wifi of course be heard in the House of Commons in due time from the opposition benches, but there is a lot in common between the programmes of Labour and the Conservatives, and much Labour legislation will merely be implementing the Coalition Government’s White Paper. Where criticism from/the opposition can be expected will be on proposals for nationalisation. There is no doubt that the opposition will fight, and fight hard on occasions when these measures are being discussed. It is remarked that Mr Attlee has been orthodox in appointing his ministry, and that contrary to expectations he has not set up a Ministry of Housing or transferred the India office to the Dominions Office. A notable feature is a reversion from the small War Cabinet to a larger Cabinet of prewar type. It is not a youthful cabinet, the average being 61, but with a number of younger men among the junior Ministers the. average age of administration has been reduced to 54. It has been commented that the preference evidently given to established parliamentarians and well tried trade union officials, shows that Mr. Attlee has been content for the present not to stray far from the wellbeaten path. Interest has been aroused by several appointments. For instance, that of Mr George Isaacs to the Ministry of Labour. He is a Trade Union leader with a reputation for courage and conciliation. Another is that of Mr. Chuter Ede who goes, to the Home Office with the reputation of being an acknowledged expert in the work of the Ministry of Education. Mr Aneurin Bevan’s appearance at the Ministry of Health is regarded as unconventional. He is noted for his talent for destructive criticism and the opinion has been expressed that if his ability for administration is as good he should go far. Miss Ellen Wilkinson is regarded as an interesting experiment at the Ministry pf Education. She has both drive and courage. Hon. Tomlinson at the Ministry of Works is declared to have earned promotion since his unqualified success as parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of Labour, while Hon. Silkin who is the new Minister of Town and Country Planning has wide knowledge of local government with a wealth of experience as chairman of the Town Planning Committee of the London County Council. Special attention has been called to the appointment of Mr. Noel Baker as Minister of State and it is presumed that he will be concerned with Britain’s relationship to the United Nations, also to Hon. Griffiths who is Minister of National Insurance. He is stated to have long been ear-mark-ed/as one of Labour’s coming men.

Opinion is expressed that Hon. Winster will not be any dummy as Minister of Civil Aviation for he has both wit and high intelligence. Notable new arrivals at Whitehall are H. B. Marquand. Professor of Industrial Relations at the University College of Cardiff, who is Secretary for Overseas Trade and Harold Wilson Young, and Oxford economist who is Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Works. It is considered that Pion. Summerskill will be a tonic for the Ministry of Food, while Hector McNeil who is onlvi thirty-five has been given an excellent start as Undersecretary for Foreign The most picturesque appointment is that of Hon. Edwards who is an ex-stoker and now is Civil Lord of the Admiralty. He is the first sailor from the lower deck to hold political office at the Admiralty. He is stated to have been a popular and efficient backbencher. An interesting fact is, that judging from the calling of Labour members returned to Westminister, the partv has passed through a metamorphosis. It now includes a considerable number of men drawn from the middle classes. Trade Union officials represent onlvi"' nineteen oer cent, of Labour in the Blouse and the greater part of the Socialist members are lawyers, doctors, technicians, teachers, journalists, and civil servants. Among the Conservatives, lawyers, civil servants, etc., and men associated with property, finance, and industry are represented in almost equal pronortions. The chief reaction thus far to Labour’s victory has been in the City of London where the Stock Market suffered its most serious reverse since 1940, and market movements took on the nature of a slump. But the financial editor of the “Manchester Guardian” comments that the advent of the Labour Government has been taken fairly calmly, in a spirit of “wait and see”, and though the stock exchange naturally put down its shares which were based on firm expectations of an early cut in business taxation, there has been no heavy selling of investments and government stocks have risen. He . adds that nevertheless the City is troubled. Some fear that free markets, which provide their livelihood, will be pairowed down and eventually stifled by the encroachment of direct State activities. Anxieties of a more disinterested kind concern Britain’s position in the world which, being precarious, will need careful handling. Particular interest centres on BritishAmerican trade relations and on the presence in London of Mr. William Clavton, Assistant Secretary of State, who is attending an UNNRA ponfeience He will meet British_Mimsters and officials concerned with' the coming economic world settlement, but it is thought that their talks will be little more than tentative. It is guessed that Jie will try to ascertain what will be Britain’s policy as regards Bretton Woods.