CABINET CHANGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23274, 17 February 1939, Page 5

CABINET CHANGES

BRITISH RESHUFFLE

FAVOURABLE REACTION IMPORTANT PORTFOLIOS DEFENCE AND FARMING [from ouh own correspondent"! LONDON, Jan. 30 lhe latest British Cabinet reshuffle and the introduction of two new men to Cabinet rank—Lord Chntfiekl to be Defence Minister, and Sir .Reginald Dorman-Sniith to be Minister of Agriculture —have met with a favourable reaction among the public.

For some weks past the Government had been facing a growing tide of criticism, within its own ranks as well as without. The rumblings in the agricultural districts had been growing louder and louder and the dissatisfaction with Mr. \V. S. Morrison, the Minister, as the Government figurehead in this department, was steadily rising, particularly after the Milk iiiil had to be withdrawn in December. If the farmers were antagonistic, the people generally were equally uneasy over the defence question, in the weeks following Munich came the revelations of glaring gaps and deficiencies. This was succeeded by the air raid precautions "muddle"" and the resentment of local bodies at the lack of co-operation by Whitehall, and a series of articles in the press criticising the country's lack of preparedness. Stronger Tone Approved

The recent stronger tone adopted by the Government and the incisive speeches by the Prime Minister met with general approval, and the feeling has been encouraged that perhaps Britain means business after all and that the drive along the "one-way road of appeasement" is coming to an end. I For some time it had become increasingly apparent that Sir Thomas lnskip, an ecclesiastical lawyer, was a round peg in a square hole in his position as Minister for the Co-ordina-tion of Defence. The appointment of Lord Ohatfield, known as a remarkable administrator, and a skilful diplomat, who, within a month after retiring from the Admiralty, was asked to investigate India's defences, caught the public imagination and met the request for a stronger hand. After six years with the Committee of Imperial Defence it is felt that Lord Chatfield will have a wide understanding of the problems of co-ordination. From the political point of view it was most important that Government action should be taken to satisfy the farmers. The discontent caused by conditions approaching a slump was wide and open, a fact made evident in the early stages of the East Norfolk byelection, when Mr. J. F. Wright was nominated by the Conservatives to oppose the National candidate. Only on Mr. Chamberlain's personal intervention did Mr. Wright stand down. The intended march of 5000 farmers on London was another indication of discontent. Appeasement o 1 the Farmers Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith's elevation from the back benches is obviously intended to appease the farmers in some measure, while it is also regarded as a good tactical move to place a farmer in .charge of the Ministry, a man who is also a past-president of the National Farmers' Union and opponent of the recent Government policy. He is credited with immense administrative ability and with refreshing modern ideas on agricultural policy. One of the British farmers' chief i bones of contention is the importation of primary produce from abroad. A limitation of Dominions' produce has been asked for openly on several occasions and, although the appointment of Sir Reginald will appease many grievances, it is not regarded as likely that it will influence the farmers to adopt a more reasonable attitude toward the Dominions' imports. "Like a dream come true" is Sir Reginald's view of his appointment to Cabinet rank. "How often since I took up farming have I thought, 'if I only were Minister of Agriculture!' " Jie said, after joining the Cabinet. "Now I have the job I am suddenly beginning to sympathise with my predecessors. But* I would not have taken the post if I liad not been convinced that agriculture can and will be placed on a sound and prosperous footing once more. New Minister's Call to Duty "Believe me, there is no mere feeling of elation in my home at my appointment. My wife and I look on it as just a call to duty. The tasks ahead are tremendous, but my political outlook has always been that there can never be permanent prosperity in this country until its main industry, agriculture, is itself prosperous. "The responsibility of bringing this to pass will rest not only on the Government, but also on the farming community, who will have to co-operate with me and the Government to the verv fullest. I can assure farmers and farm workers alike that the Premier is intensely sincere in his anxiety and determination to restore agriculture to its old-time security. "Conferences between the Ministry and representatives of the Farmers' Union have already been arranged. I look forward to similar conversations with representatives of the farm workers and to making a tour of the most seriously hit agricultural areas." " HUNDRED THOUSAND " COUNCIL OF NEW GROUP CHAIRMAN'S RESIGNATION [from OUR OWN COKUKSI'ONI)KN'r] LONDON, Jan. '2O The council of the new political group known as "The Hundred Thousand" issued the following announcement after a meeting:—"Mr. Duncan Sandys, M.P.. has resigned from the council, of which ho had been acting as provisional chairman. "His decision was made with the approval of the council, and with -,he object of making way for the appointment of a new chairman who will he more free from party ties and able to devote his undivided efforts to the work of the movement.

"It is felt tliat this change will help to emphasise the non-party character of the organisation. The council is being enlarged and" strengthened. As soon as this is complete, a chairman will he elected and the names of the council published. v "In the meantime the Duchess of Atholl, the honorary treasurer, will ho acting-chairman."