NEW BRITISH MINISTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13724, 14 April 1908, Page 4

NEW BRITISH MINISTRY.

The British Ministry, as reorganised by Mr. Asquith, is not greatly different from that which held office under Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, though the usual changing of portfolios which accompanies such transmutations is in evidence. Mr. LloydGeorge had already been mentioned as the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, and by training and natural aptitude he appears well qualified to carry out the duties pertaining to that office. Similarly, the promotion of Mr. Winston Churchill to Cabinet rank, with the portfolio of President of the Board of Trade, which Mr. Lloyd-George now vacates, had been accurately forecasted, as also had the fact that Mr. Morley was to go to the House of Lords. The Earl of Elgin disappears, and the announcement is made that the Earl of Crewe, who has up to this filled the position of Lord President of the Council, becomes Secretary for the Colonies. Mr. Runciman, as President of the "Education Board, will find himself in a position more difficult to fill than was that of Financial Secretary, for one of the most pressing problems in England at present has to do with the education question. Whether the Cabinet is politically stronger than it was remains to be seen, that depending not merely upon the ability displayed by Ministers in their respective Departments, but upon the cohesion which the Cabinet itself displays under the new leadership. In. connection with this, it must not be forgotten that during Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's illness Mr. Asquith has been practically the head of the Government, so that his actual assumption of the Premiership does not involve any sudden change' in his own work. But there must necessarily be a great difference between Mr. Asquith acting as deputy for an absent leader and Mr. Asquith acting for himself, and upon his own responsibility. At the same time, there does not appear to be any immediate intention to make any alteration in the Government policy, and it is quite possible that Mr. Asquith recognises the inevitableness of approaching defeat, and is only anxious to so meet political disaster that he will retain the prospect of a future return to power.