A STRONG GOVERNMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13724, 14 April 1908, Page 5

A STRONG GOVERNMENT.

PRESS COMMENTS. POSITION OF COLONIES. (Received April 13, 11.50 p.m.) London, April 13. The Daily Chronicle (Liberal), commenting on the new Ministry, says that apart from Sir Henry CampbellBannerman's loss, the reshuffling of offices, and the introduction of new blood have undoubtedly strengthened the Government. The Times (Independent) states that the Cabinet is distinctly stronger and more compact than it j was. The Earl of Crewe's appoint- i merit as Secretary for the Colonies tends, it is considered, to secure j harmonious relations with the colo- j nies, but since he is unable to make concessions in regard to preferential treatment his tenure of office is not likely to be a conspicuous success. Mr. Churchill, it is added, has yet to win the confidence of business men, since brilliant rhetoric does not go far.' The Times further states that Lord Elgin declined a Marquisate, and that Lord Crewe will lead for the Government in the House of Lords. The Daily Telegraph (Unionist) says that Mr. Asquith is no Little Englander, but his uncompromising Cobdenism will bar the way with regard to the paramount problem of oversea relations with the Motherland. The Daily News remarks that Mr. Asquith has a great opportunity, but he needs great courage. COMING LEGISLATION. A FIGHTING MANIFESTO. MR, CHURCHILL STATES HIS CASE. (Received April 13, 10.5 p.m.) London, April 13. Mr. Winston Churchill, in a fighting manifesto, appealed to his constituents for a renewal of their confidence. He reiterated his adherence to free trade, and promised a railway between the Victoria Nyanza and Albert Lakes, and thfe opening up of the cotton potentialities of Uganda. Further, Mr. Churchill indicated that all social reform and commercial efficiency .waited on the passage

of the Licensing fiill in its integrity. The Government, he declared, was perfectly ready to consider amendments to the Education Bill, provided schools maintained by public funds were amenable to public control and State-paid teachers were not subjected to religious tests. He admitted that Roman Catholics and Jews needed a special type of schools. Several of the change* made in the Cabinet by Mr. Asquith had been forecasted with accuracy. Mr. Morley's new dignity, Mr. Lloyd-George's new position as Chan- ! cellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. Winston. j Churchill promotion to Cabinet rank as President of the Board of Trade, in succession to Mi. Lloyd-George, had been anticipated. The Earl of Elgin disappears, and the Earl of Crewe {whose position as President of the Council is now taken by Lord Tweedmouth! becomes Secretary for the Colonies.\ Mr. McKenna, who succeeds Lord Tweedmouth as First Lord of the Admiralty, was formerly Financial Secretary of the Treasury, but be- ' came President, of the Board of Education last year, when Mr. Birrell was made Chief Secretary for Ireland. Mr. Runeiman, at President- of the Board of Education, will have a hard row to hoe, but he has shown himself to be a man of tact and ability. Of the members without a seat in the Cabinet, Lord Lucas (UnderSecretary for the Colonies) is a new political light, and is only 32 years of age. Mr. Francis D. Acland has been member for Richmond Division of Yorkshire since 1806, and is in his«3sth year. The fact that he has acted a* Parliamentary private secretary to Mr. Haktane no doubt accounts for his promotion to the position of UnderSecretary for War. Mr. Thomas R. Buchanan," M.P. for East Division, Perths, since 1903, lias been Financial Secretary to the War Office for the past two years. Mr. Charles E. H. Hobhouse, who is expected to take up the position of Secretary to the Treasury, is member for East Bristol in the House of Commons, and has been Parliamentary Under-Secretary for India since '1907. Taken all round, the Government appears to hove been strengthened, and coming events will be awaited with no little interest. As the Daily News remarks, Mi. Asquith has a great opportunity, but lie also requires great courage. He moves into "Number iO, Downing-streei," the official home of the British Prime Minister, with a brilliant- record of service to the Liberal party. While pledged to the domestic reforms with which the cause of Liberalism is identified, Mr. Asquith has sharply defined his attitude towards the growing force of socialism, which he has declared " would bring about the most startling despotism that the world has ever seen." Hitherto, while he has been acting as deputy for Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man, he has carried out the policy enunciated by the ex-Prime Minister. Now, however, with a new Government, there must come a. new declaration of policy, and Mr. Asquitli's personal convictions' will necessarily gain freer expression. The Home Rule question is virtually shelved as far as the present session is concerned by the introduction of the Irish Universities Bill establishing universities at Dublin and Belfast without religious tests. The question of public education is still in the crucible. As for the Licensing Bill, Mr. Asquith's own measure, there appears little doubt that it will be endorsed by a substantial majority of the House of Commons, though its subsequent fate is doubtful. The barrier erected by the House of Lords must be the chief cause of trouble for M'r. Asquith, as it has been for Sir Henry Camp- i boll-Ban