A Record Premiership

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 5 November 1915, Page 3

A Record Premiership

STORIES OF MR ASQUITH. “ Cold as crystal, as clever as the devil, whose interest is tempered steel. One whom all respect; many fear. It was the late Mr W. T. Stead who thus on one occasion summed up Mr Asquith, who has been Prime Minister without a break for a longer period than any other statesman since the Reform Act. His nearest competitor is the late Marquis of Salisbury, whose last Premiership extended over seven years sixteen days. Mr Asquith, who became Premier in 1908, equalled that record on April 24th last. It may truthfully be said that no Premier has ever experienced such a strenuous seven years, in which violent party strife, threaten of civil war and reform of the Constitution have been followed by the greatest war in modern history and the formation of the strongest coalition Government the country has ever known. AS A SUNDAY-SCHOOL BOY.

Unlike other distinguised men, there has never been any argument regarding Mr Asquith’s birthplace. He is a hard-headed Yorkshireman from Morley—the busy little textile town, five miles from Leeds, and eight miles from Bradford —where he was born at the Croft House sixty-three years ago on September 12th. It is recorded that Mr Asquith’s ancestors lived in the town for over 400 years.

It might bo mentioned by the way, that the house in which Mr Asquith was born is still utilised, a place of equal interest being the Rehoboth Chapel, which he attended as a boy. Some time ago Mr Asquith, when referring to this period of his life, stated that he recalled as a small boy taking part in the Sunday school processions and carrying a banner on the occasion of the rejoicings at the declaration of peace in the Crimea.

Mr Asquith lived at Morley until he was seven years old, when his father, who was a manufacturer, died. Mrs Asquith then moved to Huddersfield, where the future Premier was sent to the local grammar school. Subsequently Herbert Henry Asquith and his brother William attended the City of London School, and the former, having obtained two scholarships, went to Oxford.