THE NEW MINISTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 44

THE NEW MINISTRY.

A CREDIT VOTE PASSED. APPEAL TO LABOUR. (By Cable.) Official: The Prime Minister was suffering from a severe chill, and by hie doctor's orders was remaining indoors. Ho. wrote to members of the House of Commons on the 11th: —"The Kino' has entrusted me with the task of forming a Government. I have carried out his Majesty's commands, and I had hoped to make a statement to the House to-morrow (December 12;; but this is now impossible, and Mr Bonar Law will move the adjournment until December 14. The one predominant task before the Government is the vigorous prosecution of the war to a triumphant conclusion, and I feel confident that the Government can rely on your support as Jong as it a-jvotes its energies effectively to.that end." The War Cabinet meet every week-day. Mr Lloyd George attended a meeting, although still suffering from a chill, his voice m particular being affected.

Prior to the assembling of the House a meeting of the Irish party decided to await the Government's declaration of its Irish policy before deciding on the attitude of the party towards the Government. The meeting adopted a resolution that the party continue to favour a vigorous war policy. that it again demand Home Rule, the abolition of martial law in Ireland, and oppose conscription in Ireland by every means. The House of Commons was crowded. All the Liberal ex-members of the Cabinet sat in the front Opposition bench. The Unionist rank and file retained their seats on the Opposition side of the House, thus forestalling the Liberals, who had intended to cross .the floor. Mr Bpnar Law at once moved the adjournment of the House to December 14, when Mr Lloyd George would move a vote of credit.

Mr M'Kcnna suggested that Mr Lloyd George's statement of policy be postponed till next week to enable Mr Asquith to be present, and to this the lions' l a creed. Mr Asquith was suffering from a severe attack of influenza, and was detained at Walmcr for a few days.

THE WAR EXPENDITURE. The House of Commons was crowded when it met again on the 14th, and parties were extraordinarily mixed. Some of the Liberals had crossed to the Opposition, and many Unionists remained on the Opposition side. A considerable number of Liberals remained on the Ministerial side, and these were joined by some Unionists who crossed the floor. The majority of the Labourites remain on the Ministerial side. Mr Bonar Law moved a credit rote of £400.000.000, which will suffice until February 24. The daily average expenditure has risen to £0,710.000. He announced that the Government was taking such action as it thought necessary in the rase of Captain Blaikie, of the Caledonia. Referring to the peace proposals. Mr Bonar Law reminded the House that Mr Asquith. when moving the last credit vote, had declared that the Allies would require adequate reparation for the past and adequate security for the future. "That is still our policy." declared Mr Bonar Lawj "that is still the determination of the Government." —(Prolonged cheers.) Mr Bonar Law stated that the total credit votes for the financial rear had been £1,750.000,000. which was £350.000.000 above the Estimates. The increase was mainly duo to the manufacture of extra munitions and loans to the Allies and the dominions. The increase in munitions was enormous—

almost incredible. This was striking proof of the country's vitality. The increase under the heading "Loans to Allies and Dominions" amounted to £400,000 (?}. The increase, however, had gone entirely to the Allies, as the dominions were able to finance their expenditure. He emphasised Germany's advantage in the matter of controlling her resources and those of her allies. He declared that the Entente Governments were endeavouring to secure central control. Much had been done in that direction during the past six months. He believed that the rapidity of the victory depended upon the extent to which the resources of the Allies in men, money, and munitions could be thrown into the common cause. The total war expenditure for Great Britain was £3.852.000.000. _ He believed that we were able to maintain the present rate long enough to ensure that financial causes would not prevent victory. Up to the present no peace proposals had reached the Government.

Mr M'Konnn promised Mr Bonar Law the fullest support in his difficult task. The House unanimously adopted tho ei-edit vote.

Tho Supplementary Estimates provide for an additional million men for the army, makiii"' a total of five million. Mr Lloyd George was not present, bavin rr had a slight relapse. Tie has been ordered to take a complete vst for a few days- Latest advices state that lie is improving. Sir Georce Cave. TTome Secretary, introdueed a Bill exempting the new MinisWs from having to seek re-election bv their constituencies. Th« Bill passed all stages in the Mouse of Commons. EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES. Mr Lloyd George exchanged messages with M. Trcpoff, M. Boselli, and M. de Brocquevillc, each giving mutual assurances of

strengthening their friendships and unflinching efforts to secure victory for their common ideals and adherence to their pledges to Belgium.

PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES. The following appointments of Parliamentary Secretaries are announced: —Munitions, Mr L. W. Evans and Mr P. G. K- llaway; Admiralty, Dr M'Namara; Civil lord of the Admiralty, Mr E. G. Pretym.tn ; Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, Mr G. H. Roberts; Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, Sir R. Winfrey; Parliamentary Under-secretory to the War Office. Mr J. I. Macphorson; Financial Secretary to the War Office. Mr P. S. Poster; Lord Steward of the Household, Lord Farquhar; Treasurer of the Household. Mr James Craig; Comptroller of the Household, Sir E. A. Cornwall: Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, Lord Sufficld ; Lords;in- waiting, Lord Kenyon and Lord Yalentia ; Parliamentary Secretary to the Air Board, Mr J. L. Baird; Parliamentary Secretaries to the Treasury, Lord E. B. Talbot and Hon. R. Primrose; Lords of the Treasury. Mr J. 1 . Hope. Mr S. Walsh, and Mr J. W. Pratt. Sir Wm. Lever has been appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasurv. The other appointments remain unchanged.

CONTROLLING THE FOOD SUPPLY. Lord Devonport. speaking in the House of Lords, said that his policy as the Food Controller would be to adjust supplies arriving, so that everybody would have an i»pial chance of getting a fair share. At tho Food Controller's instance the Board of Trade has issued regulations safeguarding the 1217 supply of seed potatoes. Lord Devonport (Food Controller) has fixed the retail price of milk at 2d per quart above tho pre-war rate. An order fixing Thursday as a meatless day is expected shortly. It will operate from January. Other orders are in preparation enforcing the use of sugar tickets and inaugurating a mixed bread consisting of wheat and maize, oats, or pure barley. Wheatcn bread will be- forbidden. CONTROLLING LABOUR. Mr Hodge, Minister of Labour, in a letter to the trades unions, earnestly and confidently appeals to the workmen's leaders equally with tho employers to consult him beforo any industrial crisis is reached. He points out that it is almost impossible for the Ministry to investigate or conciliate successfully once a cessation of work has occurred. Mr Hodge announced that he would deal drastically under tho Munitions and Defence of the Realm Acts with the boilcrmakers' strike at Liverpool, as the strike is interfering with work of vital national importance. It arose against the leaders' advice over an award on "the increased cost of living. Mr Hodge's offer to hear the grievance if work were resumed was rejected. He then issued an ultimatum ordering them to resume work on Monday, and the boilermakers obeyed.

The report of the committee of engineering and shipbuilding employers in Glasgow, established for the purpose of devising means for better organisation, suggests the formation of a national advisory council of industry, under a Minister, with comprehensive powers. The report advocates payment by results and improved relations between employers and workmen, with a view to increasing productivity.

THE LIBERAL FEDERATION. The now English Liberal Federation met hurriedly, and passed a resolution of confidence in Mr Asquith as Leader of the Liberal party, also giving the Government support in the effective prosecution of the war. The Eastern Counties' Liberal Federation recorded their disgust at the campaign of malice and mendacity. The purpose of the above resolution is to emphasise the fact that the control of the Liberal party funds remains in Mr Asquith's hands. The Welsh Liberals have pledged themselves to actively support the Government, and carried a resolution conveying congratulations to Mr Lloyd George and gratitude to Mr Asquith for his past services. Mr Massingham, in the Nation, says that the new Government is in no intelligible sense a Liberal Administration. The inner strength of the Government lies in its war directorate, which is composed of Mr Lloyd George, a Tory Protectionist, two Tory Imperialists, and a Labour member. Five Secretaryships of State and the Secretaryship of the Navy have been allocated to the Unionists, with a sprinkling of Liberal undcr-Ministers. Really, the Government is not a Cabinet, but a collection of heads of the great administrative departments grouped under a Prime Minister in what is virtually a Committee of Parliament, the inner body of which is a kind of cabal. How long Parliament will tolerate so irregular and "futile a separation of its dignity from responsibility remains to be seen. We were surprised, says Mr Massingham, to learn that the Prime Minister, in the gifted person of Mr Lloyd George, has sndd'mly been enabled to confront the double task of running a war Ministry over which Mr Asquith is incapable of presiding, STR J G. WARD'S CONGRATULATIONS. Sir J. G. Ward, in a letter to Mr Lloyd George congratulating him upon attaining the Premiership, expressed a hope for complete suecess in carrying the war to final victory. He said he was confident that the outlying parts of the Empire would loyally and heartlv continue their co-operation until the bitter struggle was successfully ended.