BRITISH POLITICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 37

BRITISH POLITICS.

THE NEW MINISTRY. (By Cable.) : Mr Lloyd George (Prime Minister) has selected the following members for his new Ministry:— Mr J. I. MA'CPHERSON, Chief Secretary for Ireland. Mr E. SHORTT, K.C., Home Office. Mr WALTER LONG, Admiralty. Mr WINSTON CHURCHILL, War. Sir F. E. SMITH, Lord Chancellor. Mr AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN, Exchequer. Sir AUCKLAND GEDDES, Reconstruction Minister. Dr ADDISON, Local Government. Sir GORDON HEWART, K.C., Attor-ney-general. Mr BONAR LAW, Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons. Sir ERIC GEDDES, without portfolio. Mr A. J. BALFOUR, Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Mr L. C. M. S. AMERY, Under-Secre-tary for the Colonies. Sir S. P. SINHA, V.C., Secretary for India. Brigadier-general SEELY, President of the Air Board. Mr GEORGE BARNES, without portfolio. The following additional allotment of portfolios has been announced: Lord President and Leader of the House of Lords—Earl CURZON. Ministry of Air and War—Mr WINS TON CHURCHILL. President of Board of Trade —Sir ALBERT STANLEY. President of Board of Agriculture—Mr R. E. PROTHERO. President of Board of Education—Mr H. A. L. FISHER. Ministry of Munitions (to become Ministry of Supply)—Mr A. WEIR. Food Ministry—Mr G. H. ROBERTS. Shipping Controller—Sir JOSEPH MACLAY. Minister of Labour—Mr S. HORNE. Minister of Pensions—Sir L. WORTHINGTON EVANS, Commissioner of Works—Sir A. M. MOND. Solicitor-general—Sir E. M. POLLOCK. Postmaster-general —Mr A. ILLINGWORTH. Lord-lieutenant of Ireland—Viscount FRENCH. \ Under-secretary for Home Affairs'—Sir HAMAR GREENWOOD. The Government proposes to establish a Ministry of Ways and Communcations, which, if it is adopted., Sir Eric Geddes will control. ' . Peerages -will be conferred on Messrs Prothero and A. Weir. PRESS COMMENT. The Times, in a leading article, states that the new Cabinet is merely a reshuffle of the many palpable misfits. The pervading air is one of staleness, and the Ministry is probably intended as a stopgap during the Peace Conference and pending the launching of a reconstruction policy, but Mr Lloyd George has gravel} shaken the confidence in his power of choosing, and placing men. The Daily Mail, in a leading article, savs: The old influence is too strong for Mr Lloyd George; many of the appointments are pui-ely political. THE LIBERAL PARTY. The Daily Express states that Mr Asquith has decided not to seek reelection. He -will lead the party from outside. The Daily Express states that the Coalition Liberals are making a determined effort to place Mr Lloyd George in the position of Leader of the Liberal Parfry. and are seeking to capture 10 Liberal federations. Already "the Eastern Countries Federation has been captured."

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. The King opens Parliament on February 4. There will be a resumption of the old-time stateliness and splendour, abandoned in war time. _ THE MACHINERY OF GOVERNMENT. A committee under Lord Haldane's presidency, to inquire into the machinery of government, recommends that the Cabinet should consist of 10, or not more than 12, members, and should be supplied with information in such a way as to enable it to reach an expeditious decision. The Cabinet should also make a point of consulting all the Ministers whose work is likely to affect its decisions. The committee, commenting on the nonutilisation of women's services in administrative departments and intelligence branches, says:Their public service has hitherto been believed to be possessed of vast knowledge and fresh ideas which for particular purposes have been more valu. able than even that of the ablest men in the civil service. The committee recommends _ closer parliamentary control over administrative departments, the appointment of a Minister to preside over an Empire Department of Intelligence and Research, instancing the importance of the work achieved during the war by the Privy Council organisation to encourage the application of science to industry. The committee discountenances the forming of special Ministries for various classes of the community, which is less effective than a department concentrating on the needs of the community as a whole. There must be better combination between the various departments instead of working in watertight compartments. The committee advocates the creating of a Ministry of Bail ways if these, are nation-.

alised, also a Ministry for the Purchase of Government Supplies. The Home Secre.? taryships should be transformed into Ministries. There should be a Ministry of Justice, and all judges should be appointed by the Lord Chancellor. THE LABOUR PARTY. The Parliamentary Labour Party has appointed Mr Adamson. as chairman and Mr Clynes as vice-chairman, and also decided to conduct an effective official opposition in the House of Commons.