BRITISH POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18875, 30 May 1923, Page 7

BRITISH POLITICS

NEW PEIMB MINISTER.

OVATION IN THE COMMONS OPPOSITION MEMBERS' CONGRATULATIONS. P 1033 Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 28. Mr Stanley Baldwin received an ovation on entering the House of Commons. Mr Ramsay MacDonald expressed profound regret at the causes leading to Mr Bonar Law's retirement, and congratulated Mr Baldwin on his accession to office. ' Mr Asqxuth and Mr Lloyd George joined in expressing sympathy for Mr Bonar Law. They also congratulated Mr Baldwin. Mr A. Chamberlain delivered an eloquent eulogy of Mr Bonar Law. He congratulated Mr Baldwin "as Prime Minister and as leader of my Party. - ' The Unionist Party ;had previously unanimously elected Mr Baldwin its leader. Mr Chamberlain did not attend the meeting, and the only members of the latter's group present were Sir L. Worthington-Evans, Sir E. Pollock, and Sir R. Home. The proceedings were private. Lord Curzon presided. A special vote of tiianks was passed to Mr Bonar Law, and Lord Curzon then moved the election of Mr Baldwin as leader.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

PRACTICAL UNITY

MEETING OF UNIONISTS.

MR BALDWIN ELECTED LEADER.

LONDON, May 28. Mr Baldwin, in thanking the Unionist meeting ' for electing him leader, said: “To-day we have practical unity, and, though there may be symptoms in the press for a few days of a fire burning up, jt is a fire that will die down if fuel is not added. There will be no faggot thrown on it by me. I trust that all the members of the Party will avoid any discussions that would delav complete reunion or the development of our great Empire. We all know that in its development we may in time have that which will make us more independent of the world than would be the case in any other country except the United States. Nevertheless, we must not forget that this development, even with our utmost endeavour, will be of slow growth; and if, in attending to it, we allow Europe to disintegrate and collapse before our. eyes nothing can save this country, either from the continuance of the appalling trade conditions of the last two years or from social reactions among our own people that may be beyond the power of statesmanship to cope with.” —A. and N.Z. Cable.

NEW POSTMASTERGENERAL.

SIR L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS APPOINTED.

LONDON, May 28. Sir L. Worthington-Evans has accepted office as Postmaster-general.—A. and N.Z. Cable. The vacancy occurred through the ap pointment of Mr Neville Chamberlain as Minister of HeaJth in succession to feir Arthur Griflith-Boscawen, who was defeated when he stood for re-election. Sir L. Worthington-Evans was Secretary jf State for War in the Coalition Government.