THE NEW CABINET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13726, 16 April 1908, Page 5

THE NEW CABINET.

MR. ASQUITffS TASK.

FURTHER APPOINTMENTS. IMPORTANT CHANGES. By Telegraph.—Pre** Association..- Copyrifh*London, April 14. Mb. Abqitctk has now completed his Ministry by allotting the remaining minor portfolios. Mr. Edmund Robertson, Secretary to the Admiralty, and Mr. Thos. Lotigh, Secretary to the Board of Education, retire, Mr. Lough accepting a Privy Councillorship. Mr. Thos. McKinnon Wood, M.P. for the St. Roliix Division of Glasgow, and an ex-chairman of the London County Council, succeeds Mr. Lough. Dr. T. o. McNamara. Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Local Government Board, becomes Secretary to the Admiralty, Mr. Chas. F. G. Masterrnan, M.P. for West Ham, succeeding him in his former office. Mr. Chas. E. H. Hobhouse, M.P. for East Bristol, has been appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasury in place of Mr. Walter Runciman, elevated to Cabinet rank as President of the Board of Education. Dr. T. J. Maonamara is a native of Montreal, where he was born 47 years ago. He was a son of a soldier, and has been editor of The Schoolmaster for some years. He was elected member for North Camberwell in 1900, and was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board lust year. He lias published many books on educational subjects, and has also been a constant contributor to newspapers and magazines. Mr. Chas. F. Q. Masterman, M.A., has represented West Ham in Parliament since 1906, and he is the literary editor of the Dailv News, and is also the author of a number of publications, as well as a writer for a number of reviews. He has generally taken a great interest in social and religious questions. Mr. Thos. McKinnon Wood, who is 55 years of age, was bom and educated in London,, and is the holder of the B.A. and LL.D. degrees. He has seen, considerable service on the London County Council, and was chairman of that body in 1898-99. Mr. Charles E. H. Hobhouse, who is 42 years of age, has been member for East Bristol since 1900, and was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary for India lastyear. He was private secretary at tke Colonial Office from 1892 to 1895.

The Right Hon. Edmund Robertson, M.P. for' Dundee, was appointed secretary to the. Admiralty in 1905. Mr. Thos. Lough, M.P. .for Islington W., who retires from the position of secretary to the Board of Education, had held that office since 1905. INCREASED STATUS. London, April J4. The Chronicle states that the Government intends to increase the status of the Presidents of the Board of Trade and the Local Government Board, increasing their salaries from £2000 a year to the ordinary Cabinet Ministerial allowance of £5000. FRENCH OPINIONS. London, April 14. Opinions in France are favourable towards Mr. Asquith's Ministry. Le Temps says that Mr. Asquith's practical opportunism has replaced Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman's naive sentimentalism, which was full of illusions, and was occasionally embarrassing.

THE COLONIAL VIEW. London, April 14. The Cape Times, in commenting on the new Ministry, says that South Africa may congratulate itself upon escaping from the peril of having Winston Churchill as Colonial Secretary. The Cape Argns expresses lelief at the removal of Mr. Churchill, and gratification at the appointment of the Earl of Crewe as Secretary of State for the Colonies. PARLIAMENT ADJOURNED. (Received April 15. 11.40 p.m.) London, April 15. The House of Commons nas adjourned until the 27th inst.