LONDON NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 28 May 1915, Page 5

LONDON NEWS.

THE COALITION" CABINI_T>

FAVORABLE NEWSPAPER COMMENT, y SPEECHES BY UNIONIST LEADERS OPPOSITION BOUND TO ACCEPT SHARE OF RESPONSIBILITY. LORD MILNER'S VIEWS. COMPULSORY SERVICE NECESSARY. VOLUNTARY SYSTEM A TREMENDOUS HANDICAP. THE PRESENT METHOD UNFAIR, NATION READY TO OBEY THE WORD.

LONDON, May 27. < ?The following appointments, have •been made outside the Cabinet: -iMr Herbert L. Samuel—PostmasterGeneral. ? (Was: President Local Government Board. Has served as Under-Secretary to Home Department, and Chancellor of the Duchy of * Lancaster.) Mr F. E. Smith, X.C.—Solicitor-Gen- . erai. (Has acted, as Press Censor,and later went to the front as -'-"'tha\oi.) The Hon. E. S. Montague—Secretary

to the Treasury. (No change.) At the Carlton Club Mr Bonar Law, amid cheers, read Mr Asquith's letter inviting the Unionists to enter the Cabinet, in which he said that after long consideration it had been decided that the conduct of the war to a successful issue cannot be effected except by a Cabinet representing all parties. After consultation with Lord Lans- j downe arid other leaders, Mr Bonar Law | accepted the position in the Cabinet.

The Manchester Guardian states that there are rumors that Mr Asquith may ultimately leave the Treasury, Mr Lloyd George becoming Premier. The rumors are not without foundation.

At the Carlton Club, Lord Lansdowne said there had been shortcomings and miscalculations in the conduct of the war. We were not sure of getting enough men or the right men. It was common knowledge that a failure to supply the essential munitions has many times interfered with the military operations. The staying power of the country was going to be taxed as never before, and the Opposition, therefore, was bound to accept a share of the responsibility.

Mr Bonar. Law said that the Unionists were entering' the coalition with a fixed determination-to act loyally towards every member of the Cabinet, putting aside all thought of Home Rule, the Welsh Church, and other party questions. We all regret Mr Redmond has not joined the new Government. We must realise it is entitled to act with the strength of a Government which has the nation behind it.

The Duke of Rutland and Leicester said he spoke with certain knowledge when he said the men at the front were suffering abominable tortures from most hopeless forgetfulness en the part of. the military authorities in respect of creating a constant supply of guns and shells. There was not- a thousandth part of the explosive shells supplied that were required. Regiments went into the trenchq-s with a couple of dozen hand grenades. He believed Mr Lloyd George was one of the few men capable of putting the matter on a.strong and energetic business footing.

PARIS, May 27

The newspapers favorably comment on the Cabinet, particularly the inclusion of Lord Lansdowne, who was the principal negotiator for the Entente Cordiale. Satisfaction is expressed that Mr Churchill remains in the Cabinet.

LONDON, May 27

Lord Milner, in a letter' to the Times, says the change in the Ministry will not bring victory without a change of method. Nine-tenths of the hitches, delays, blunders and widespread uneasiness and discontent are due to the fact that the country, still clings to the voluntary system, while the enemy is organised on the principle of national service throughout^ This handicap is too enormous. The spirit of the nation is excellent to supply the needs of firm leadership. There ought to be a census in order that the country may call men out in the right order, the younger before the older, and the unmarried before the married.

if the present call for 300,000 succeeds it will be needlessly disorganising and wasteful. The unfairness of leaving the individual to decide who is to betir the burden will become increasingly disturbing to the public mind. The present method is unfair to our soldiers, the Allies, and thousands of men and some who are unjustly denounced a,s slackers and cowards, when they are really ignorant and bewildered. We have hitherto relied too exclusively on picking our people, and it is high time we enrolled the whole of the able-bodied manhood of the nation. We are ready to obey; it only needs the captain on the bridge to give the signal.

The Times, in a leader, emphasises the urgent and imperative need of national service in its broadest sense. It has taken long months of slaughter to awaken the nation to the immensity of the task before them, and the immensity of the effort demanded, which is only accomplishable by Britain's whole strength disciplined, marshalled, and co-ordinated. On all sides military and civil people now realise the Dominions' system of military ser-

tf^s^i}* v)Ss ■** r^yu -% \ ■*■,■*?, .■". - >-,'• Wly * demo^r^r^ They dlhe. ' wprdT anil - are ready. t»' obey. The Government officially announces that it will not interfere -witl. racing in Ireland. ' ' * " Bombardier t Wells, the pugilist, has enlisted as a private in a Welsh regiment.