PRESS COMMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22131, 10 June 1935, Page 9

PRESS COMMENT

LITTLE NEW BLOOD MR. EDEN'S- SUCCESSES BIGGER POST EXPECTED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received June 9. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 8 Commenting on the reconstructed Cabinet the Daily Telegraph says: Mr. Baldwin is the embodiment of the spirit of national union. His choice of a Cabinet will not escape the criticism that the infusion of new blood is comparatively small. Many people had hoped that Mr. Eden's successes would have secured for him the Foreign Office portfolio.

The News Chronicle says it sees littlo difference between the new and the old Governments except that the Conservatives' domination is slightly more definitely acknowledged.

The Daily Herald describes the changes merely as politics, it says the Conservatives, having tasted blood, will want the remaining offices. The Times says: Mr. Baldwin's new Government maintains the national principle to the full extent of its predecessor, and it is definitely stronger in detail.

"The ending of the farce," is how the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. .George Lansbury, describes the new Government. He adds: "1 am glad it is now acknowledged that the country is really ruled by a Conservative Government."

Mr. Stanley Baldwin, leader of the Conservative Party, was born on August H, 18(57, iti Worcestershire. Educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, he entered his father s business, Baldwins, Limited, controlling one of the largest iron and steel works in Britain, of which eventually he became the head. He had been in business 20 years before he tried to enter Parliament in 190(5. Two years later he was elected for Bewdlcy, which he has represented ever since.

Mr. Baldwin was a back-bencher in his 50th year in the middle of the war. Within six years he had held his first Ministerial post, passed through two great Cabinet offices, and became Prime Minister. In Mr. Lloyd George's second Coalition Government the late Mr. Bonar Law, Chancellor of the Exchequer, appointed him his Parliamentary private secretary, and a few months later he was made Financial Secretary to the Treasury. When Mr. Bonar Law's health first failed Mr. Baldwin was appointed President of the Board of Trade, and 18 months later in Mr. Law's Cabinet he became Chancellor of the Exchequer. As Chancellor he went to Washington in connection with the British debt to America. When Mr. Bonar Law resigned in May, 1923, Mr. Baldwin was sent for by the King and formed a Cabinet. After the downfall of the Labour Cabinet in 1924 he was returned to power at the general election in October, with a majority of 211 over all other parties, and held office until 1929. In August, 1931, Mr. Baldwin joined the National Ministry as Lord President of the Council, a post he has now given up in order to take over the Prime Ministership for the third time.

The retiring Prime Minister, Mr. James Ramsay Mac Donald, was born at Lossiemouth, Scotland, his father being a farm labourer. At an early age he became a pupil teacher, and then went to London and had various ill-paid occupations. Later he became private secretary to the late Mr. Thomas Lough, a Liberal member of the House of Commons.

Mr. MacD.onald joined the Fabian Society and in 1893 helped to form th<? Independent Labour Party and kept himself by journalism. In 1900 he was appointed secretary of the Independent Labour Party and with Mr. Keir Hardie and others did much to assist its progress. In 1906 he was one of 30 Labour members returned to Parliament. At the outbreak of the war he opposed the entry of Britain into the conflict and finding the bulk of the party against him resigned the leadership, and was succeeded by Mr. Arthur Henderson. He lost his seat at Leicester in 1918 by a large majority, and later a by-election at Woolwich, a Labour stronghold. But in 1922 he was elected for Aberavon, and was elected chairman of the Labour Party, and in Parliament stood head and shoulders over his colleagues. "When the Conservative Government fell in 1923 Mr. Mac Donald was the only possible Labour Prime Minister. He took the important post as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, but was defeated in the debate on the famous " Zinovieff Letter." His party was defeated at the election and he resigned. He was, however, re-elected chairman of his party in 1926, in spite of a revolt against him. At the general election of 1929 the Labour Party again came into power and Mr. Mac Donald, for the second time, was appointed-,Prime Minister.

In 1931, the Conservatives pressed for a general election on a national appeal to the country, and this was held in October. On this basis Mr. Mac Donald secured 556 supporters in the House of Commons, and the Opposition was reduced to 59. He then formed the National Government which has now been reconstructed and in which he has changed positions with Mr. Baldwin.