THE CHANGE OVER

Southland Times, Issue 19396, 10 November 1924, Page 5

THE CHANGE OVER

TRANSFER OF THE SEALS CONSERVATIVES ASSUME OFFICE LABOUR GOES INTO OPPOSITION. PRESS COMMENT ON THE NEW CABINET. CBy Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). LONDON, November 8. (Received November. 9, 11.0 pan ) By a strange coincidence the transfer of the seals of office at Buckingham Palace synchronised with the changing of the Guards. The Prince of Wales and Prince Arthur of Connaught attended the Privy Council at which the new Ministers were sworn in. Mr Winston Churchill drove straight from the Palace and took up his duties at No. 10 Downing Street. Mr Austen Chamberlain later took over the Foreign Office. The only new appointment announced is that of Commander B. M. Eyres-Monsell as Chief Whip. Mr Stanley Baldwin has gone to Chequers for the week-end, while Mr Ramsay MacDonald has gone to Oxford for a holiday. Mr J. H. Thomas is already back at the headquarters of the Railway Union. RESIGNATION HONOURS. Mr William Graham and Mr Ben Spoor have been appointer Privy Councillors. Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s resignation honours’ list is the shortest on record. It contains five names, vix, Messrs Graham and Spoor as Privy Councillors, and a K.CM.G. for Sir Cecil Hurst, legal adviser to the Foreign Office and C-.V.0. for Mr Walford Selby and Mr Charles Duff, private secretaries to Mr Ramsay MacDonald at the Foreign Office and Treasury. THE NEW COLONIAL SECRETARY. The Press generally approves of the appointment of Lieut-Colonel L. C. M. S. Amery as Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Morning Post says: We rejoice that Lieut-Colonel Amery’ has been appointed to the Colonial Office, as there are few politicians with greater knowledge or sounder views on Imperial problems. The Daily Telegraph considers that LieutColonel Amery is likely to have an exceptionally difficult time with Ireland, which is now part of the dominions. The Daily Chronicle says that he was always a stalwart Protectionist and a Diehard Conservative. COMMENT ON THE NEW CABINET. The Daily Express, regarding Sir Robert Horne, says: "The double blunder of omitting the offer of the Exchequership and the barren offer of the Labour Ministry beggars comment, but the Horne disaster is crowned and capped by the Derby disaster. It is a miracle of clumsiness to eliminate the leaders of Scottish and Lancashire Toryism.” The Times says: “Mr Baldwin has resisted the temptation to surround himself with colleagues whose present loyalty is their main recommendation. He has offended numbers of ardent members of the party, who prefer to see Mr Churchill win fresh spurs as a Conservative before entering cabinet. It was a bold, wise course, indicating that he did not fear the intrigues and give the jobs to the associates of those whose chief political ambition is to seen the end of Mr Baldwin’s leadership.” Regarding the Cabinet as a whole, it is pointed out that it contains few peers. Some surprise is expressed at Sir A Steel Maitland’s appointment to the Labour Ministry in view of Mr Baldwin’s insistence to Sir Robert Horne on its paramount importance. The Daily Chronicle opines that if the Indian situation develops Lord Birkenhead’s guidance will not be nerveless. The Daily Telegraph summing up, says: “The Administration promises to be strong, capable and progressive. There can be no room for reatcionary Toryism in a Cabinet which includes the two Chamberlains, Lord Birkenhead and Mr ChurchilL The Morning Post states that good predominates as certainly not in the late Government or the Coalition. The Daily Express states: “The new Cabinet is bom in a blizzard, which may severely test its infantile stamina. Mr Churchill’s appointment is beyond criticism as far as his abilities are concerned, but as a deliberate stroke of party strategy it is inexplicable. He fought shoulder to shoulder with the party which was determined to destroy the Preference resolutions. It will now be his first duty as Chancellor to defend them.” SIR ROBERT HORNE. EXCLUSION FROM CABINET. •THE EXCHEQUER OR NOTHING.” LONDON, November 7. Sir Robert Home declined office owing to the binding character of his city connection. Concerning this, however, the political correspondent of the Daily Telegraph is perfectly frank. He says Mr Baldwin, at the first interview, asked Sir Robert Home to accept the position of Minister of Labour. Sir Robert said he would be prepared to make severe personal sacrifices in order to return to the Exchequer, but felt unable to accept Labour, which was the department in which he began his Ministerial career. Yesterday Sir Robert had two further interviews with Mr Baldwin, when it was urged on him that the Labour Ministry was of the greatest importance at present, though the salary was only £2OOO. Sir Robert Horne felt unable to reconsider his decision. The correspondent affirms that Labour was the only position offered him from first to last. The Daily Herald, commenting on the Evening Standard’s description of Sir Robert Home’s exclusion as a bad start, says: “This immediate outbreak of squabbling is a good omen, and it shows that the Tory majority may go easily to pieces if unceasing and scientificially attacked. Labour must plan its campaign carefully.” The Graphic says: “Mr Baldwin offered Sir Robert Horae £5OOO yearly to accept the Labour portfolio; but it was the Exchequer or nothing.” MR CHURCHILL’S APPOINTMENT. CREATES A SENSATION. SOME PLAIN NEWSPAPER COMMENT. LONDON, November 7. Mr Winston Churchill’s appointment as Chancellor has created a sensation in political circles, and, despite Mr Austen Chamberlain’s being appointed Deputy Leader of the llctKe of Commons, the Chancellor’s proximity to the Premier has badly impressed the “Diehard” Conservatives. Mr Churchill’s appointment as Chancellor of the Exchequer took the newspaper public completely by surprise. It is stated on good authority that Mr Baldwin consulted no one about this. The most intriguing comment emanated from the. Morning Post: “If we hesitate to applaud the bold experiment it is not because Mr Churchill has not yet declared himself a Conservative; nor is it based on Mr Churchill’s record, over which we are quite willing to pass the sponge. It is because, rightly or wrongly, Mr Churchill is regarded with hostility by the working classes, especially ex-service men, and we fear this sentiment will make the co-opera-tion we should desire to see between all classes much more difficult than if Mr Baldwin had undertaken it without the assistance of this new and coruscating colleague.” The Daily Telegraph characterised Mr Churchill s appointment as very courageous, ’MX because of any doubt of his adequacy

for the post, but because it is notorious that he is not equally acceptable to all sections of Mr Baldwin’s supporters. “The national finances, which were gravely embarrassed by Mr Snowden’s reckless Budget (as the country will soon discover) call for a first-class Chancellor. We hope that Mr Churchill will rise to the full measure of the country’s needs.” The Daily Chronicle says: “Mr Churchill’s appointment shows Mr Baldwin standing up to the Tory Diehards, and also gives an assurance that Free Trade will remain, even if small preferences to the dominions are revived.” The Daily Mail says: ‘‘The inclusion of Mr Churchill in the Cabinet is the greatest and most welcome surprise. It shows that Mr Baldwin is anxious to complete the Conservative reunion, and make fullest use of the talent available. Mr Churchill was the most effective critic of Socialism, and has long abandoned the effete pedantry of Cobden ism,”