BRITISH CABINET SHUFFLE

Otago Witness, Issue 3015, 27 December 1911, Page 9

BRITISH CABINET SHUFFLE

THE NEW FIRST LORD. PERPLEXED CRITICISM. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, October 27. The general post in the Ministry really does not matter much except as regards the exchange between Mr M'Kenna and Mr Churchill. Critics are at a loss to account for it. On the one hand it is suggested that Mr Churchill's action at the Home Office, particularly in connection with the Sydney street siege, the Tonypandy riots, and the strike, has caused the Government much embarrassment; on the other the explanation is thrown out that the fiery young Minister scents trouble ahead, and has made a bid for the post which will give him the biggest say in dealing with it. Mr Chamberlain made a pecuniary sacrifice in 1895 when he selected the Colonial Office; but he ">did it in the belief—and it turned out a right one—that history would be made in the Colonial Office. Mr Churchill makes a pecuniary sacrifice now to the extent of £SOO, but the residence which goes with the office of First Lord more than compensates for this loss. WAS HE GOOD OR BAD? It appears that Mr M'Kenna had certain virtues as, First Lord which the public generally did not recognise. In the House and a*t the hustings he gave the impression of weakness and indecision, but tributes to his departmental efficiency have now come from unexpected quarters. The Daily Telegraph states that while he had to bear' much criticism, often from his own side in politics, "we are glad to recall that it is mainly to him that we owe the provision of eight Dreadnoughts in 1909, and that the estimates for which he ha.p made himself responsible have been consistently framed in a large and liberal spirit. It is just for this reason that he has had to run the gauntlet of Radical suspicion as a man who did not hesitate to keep the navy at what, in his judgment, was a,proper state of efficiency. He may not have done all that the Unionists could have wished, but he has done what he could under circumstances no doubt at times of cruel embarrassment."

The Daily Mail also eulogises his work :—"The nation will not forget the industry and. pertinacity with which he has worked for the navy; and when the inner records of this Ministry come to be published it will be seen that he was prepared to make great personal sacrifices to obtain a strong fleet, and to face obloquy and incessant attacks in that cause." *■

The Times : "Mr M'Kenna has had great difficulties to contend with, but he may be congratulated upon the firmness with which he has defended the claims of the Admiralty. He has the satisfaction of knowing that he leaves the navy substantially in the position which in 1909 he declared that it ought to occupy. Ho has done a great deal for the internal administration of the navy and for "the comfort and well-being of its personnel, fox which he will no doubt be gratefully remembered." PER CONTRA. But here the praise ends .abruptly. The Daily Express shrieks its denunciation. " He was totally unfit for the great post which he has held too long," he ," was an incompetent "ruler," "he has not been a success," " his attitude on naval questions has been decidedly unsatisfactory," "he has not had the confidence of the navy, which has resented his proprietorial airs," and "he failed so signally." The Morning Post, the other organ of the forward Unionists, says no one who is concerned for the strength and efficiency of the navy will regret Mr M'Kenna's departure, "his administration has on the whole been injurious to the welfare of the great service." MR CHURCHILL WELCOMED. Mr Churchill has on the whole been welcomed to his new post. Two years ago he was regarded as the arch-abettor of Mr Lloyd George in opposing the navy estimates, but since then he has said little, and just the other day he made a speech at Dundee —with pre-vision perhaps—in which he clearly indicated that he realised the necessity for strong measures in defence. Mr Churchill is, however, traditionally an economical administrator. The Times : "The appointment of Mr Churchill may, we hope, be taken as an indication that the Government is beginning to recognise the extreme urgency" of the question of national defence. . He is hardly popular among Unionists, but his bitterest enemies will not deny that he is endowed with great intellectual abilities and that he is distinguished by firmness and strength of purpose. A great opportunity, lies before him." The Times remarks with satisfaction on the growing sense of the gravity of tendencies and manifestations which Mr Churchill has lately displayed, and hopes that he will not be behind his predecessor at the Admiralty. The Express: " Unless we are greatly mistaken in our estimate of the man, the' Admiralty will under Mr Churchill regain the confidence of the public. We do not think he will wish or dare to jeopardise the sea power of Great Britain, and we think him strong enough to carry his necessary point." THE ENTENTE WITH GERMANY. The Morning Leader, which is a strong peace paper, draws this conclusion : "With the completion of the German naval programme a situation of great delicacy and full of hope for both nations will arise, and if negotiations have to be carried through with, say. Admiral von Tirpitz, or his colleagues, it is just as well, in spite of Mr M'Kenna's great ability, that they should be in other hands. Mr Churchill will never render a greater public eervioe than if he helps to relieve

the two countries from the excess of armaments and to set an example- which all Europe will be impatient to follow." The Chronicle is responsible for the statement that Mr Churchill could have gone to the Admiralty several years ago; that when Lord Tweedmouth resigned Sir John Fisher used his influence to induce Mr Churchill to fill the place vacated by his uncle; that he refused the tempting offer, and onJy goes to the Admiralty now out of a strong sense of duty. Other papers remark favourably upon the friendship between Mr Churchill and the German Emperor.