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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19219, 9 July 1924, Page 6

Some remarks addressed by the Earl of Birkenhead to a gathering of Canadians in London, and reported by cable yesterday, invito passing notice. Not that Lord Birkenhead is a figure of commanding importance in the political world at the present time. It might be cynical to say that his self-importance did not bear close relationship to his place in public esteem. Ho was one of the pushing politicians whose careers were helped along by the abnormal circumstances of wartime coalitions. Brilliant, epigramatic, and pertinaciously ambitious, he was one of the most conspicuous Conservative gladiators during the first decade of the century, when the forces of Asqmtlian-cum-Lloyd Georgian Liberalism were securely entrenched in the House of Commons; and in those trying times—the days of Irish controversy, the Parliament Bill, and other crucial problems—the effectiveness of his satirical wit was, with cause, admiringly respected by his opponents. But his coruscations and his poses were not taken too seriously. Ho was in the running for high place in the next Conservative Cabinet, if (ns the Liberals of the period pleasantly put it) there was ever to be another Conservative Cabinet. But fortune was on the side of the sparkling parliamentary freelance: parliamentary, wo say, for he had no command of the ardent convincingness essential to platform success. Sir Frederick Smith was —and, differently entitled, ho still is—a consummate advocate. His judicial status has not materially modified the forensic temperament. Hia advance did not follow the anticipated lines of party progress. The Groat War came, with the stern necessity of coalition arrangements; and to Sir Frederick Smith came the Lord Chancellorship, a peerage (with upward gradations), and, subsequently, lively participation in many post-war controversies.

Nevertjiklkss Lord Birkenhead, despite what might seem to have been his good fortune, has never become a really famous nr, in the highest sense, an important public figure. Curiously enough, the occupancy of the Woolsack, the goal of every English 'barrister’s endeavour, has seldom been associated with outstanding political distinction. Anyhow, when Lord Birkenhead balks 10-day about Imperial Preference or any other public subject he can claim a measure of respect as a prominent ex-Lloyd Georgian personage in the Conservative Party, but scarcely as a statesman of dominating influence in the concerns of Empire. According to the cable he assured a gathering of Canadians in lamdon that the decision of the House of Commons in regard to Preference did not represent the views of the people. Remembering the result of the last General Election (in which Lord Birkenhead played, for a peer, an unusual and much criticised part.) this remark cannot bo accepted as conclusive or even as plausibly reasonable. And tho same may be said respecting tho ex-Chancellor's special appeal to his Canadian audience. “We do not seek,” he, said, “to involve you in our domestic disputes, but I ask you to take back to Canada this message—that the decision regarding Imperial Preference was taken in the teeth of our protest. There exist in Britain many men with power recommending their views to the British electors, who are still aware of the incomparable resources of the mighty dominions and tho advantages of the Preference which you voluntarily gavo us many years ago, and who on the moral side wall never forge.t that Canada, like Australia, in tho greatest crisis in our history ranged herself on our side with an unquenchable, spirit of courage.’’ “Our protesjj,,” of course, moans the protest of tho Conservative minority, which has no right to bolster up its fiscal doctrines with misleading war-time analogies.