MR J. CHAMBERLAIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 15

MR J. CHAMBERLAIN.

THE VETERAN'S RETURN TO ST. STEPHENS. SWEARING IN OF MEMBERS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, February 18. The ohief business at the House of Commons this week was the election of Mr Lowther as Speaker, and then the formal taking of the oath by the new members. The principal incident of Wednesday was the visit of Mr Joseph Chamberlain, who, although stricken by illness, came down to the House, and was assisted to take the oath r a proceeding which was the subject of general and sympathetic comment among members of all parties. The scene is thus described by a parliamentary writer: —"Just after 4 o'clock one of the clerks at the table rose, and, stepping forward to the Clerk of the House, Sir Courtenay Ilbert, as he was administering the oath, whispered a few words. Even while he was speaking, Mr Chamberlain entered the House from behind the Speaker's Chair. At once silence fell. In6tinotively the general conversation ceased, and every member present turned his gaze, fixedly, but sympathetically, upon the little group that had just entered. For Mr Chamberlain it was, though sadly changed indeed from the familiar figure who used to stride into the House with swift, eager step, casting quick glances from side to side, and rallying the spirit and confidence of his supporters wherever his look might fall." FATHER AND SON. He leaned on the arm of Mr .Austen Chamberlain, his devoted eon, while in his left hand he carried a walking stick. Lord Morpeth, the newly-appointed Unionist Whip, was also close beside him. The trio slowly passed down the side of the table, and Mr Chamberlain was assisted to a seat on the Treasury Bench. As a Privy Councillor he was entitled to precedence over the other members waiting to be sworn, but such as stood near, of course, drew back. Sir Courtenay Ilbert approached with a card which contains the oath, and, holding it before Mr Chamberlain, recited what was to him the perfectly familiar formula. Mr Chamberlain spoke, but his words were hardly audible in the gallery. Meanwhile, Mr. Austen Chamberlain was writing his father's name in the roll of Parliament, and when he had finished he brought the book, held it before his father. and, placing the pen with which he had signed in his father's left hand, touched the signature with the pen. It was the attestation of validity. Mr Chamberlain had signed the roll of the new Parliament. As he rose to his feet, Sir Courtenay Ilbert pronounced the word of form.il introduction to the Speaker. "Mr Chamberlain." The Speaker leaned forward with a smile of sympathetic welcome. "lam very glad to see you back again," he said, with outstretched hand, and Mr Chamberlain, leaning on his son's arm, held out his left hand in response. He acknow' Iged the greeting with a few murmured words, and moved slowly from the House. As soon as Mr Chamberlain's presence was made known in the lobby, there wa6 naturally a general movement of members towards the Chamber, but the number of those present was not large, and the moident only occupied a very few minutes. AFTER FOUR YEARS. The right hon. gentleman had not crossed the portals of the Chamber since he was stricken with illness in July, 1906, a few days after the great public celebration of his seventieth birthday at Birmingham. His last speech in the House of Commons was on Mr Birrell's Education Bill, and was delivered on June 27 of that same year. It will readily be recalled, with how much fire and energy he led the Opposition at the opening of the last new Parliament in 1906 during the short period that Mr Balfour was without a seat, and it shows his indomitable spirit that he determined to take the oath and sign the roll as member for West Birmingham in the new Paliament of 1910. What would he not give to have the strength once more to take his place in the front. Opposition Bench, and attack with all his old brilliancy the Government of the clay! What would not his party give to have him back! A famous master of the art of war. used to count himself as being worth 100.000 men to his side. Mr Chamberlain would be worth a hundred members to the Unionist, party. And—for it is a tradition, of English politics to be sreneroiw? to opponents who have been touched by Fate—what would not Ministers give to have their old foeman confronting and accusing them across the table! There have been few more touching things in the recent political history of this, or any other country, than the physical incapacity of Mr Chamberlain at the moment when his whole mind burns to be thrown into the fray.