BACK IN OFFICE

Southland Times, Issue 20794, 7 June 1929, Page 7

BACK IN OFFICE

Labour Party

MACDONALD NOAV PRIME

MINISTER

INTERVIEW WITH KING CABINET EXPECTED LATER (United Press Assn. -By Telegraph-Copyright.) London, June 5. Mr Ramsay Macdonald had an audience with the King at Windsor Castle this morning and accepted his Majesty's invitation to form a Government. The King received Mr Macdonald sitting up in his chair and perused the list of nominees for office which Mr Macdonald submitted.

The interview lasted a quarter of an hour.

Probably the late Ministers will hand over their seats of office to his Majesty in a few days, and his Majesty himself will redistribute them to their successors.

Returning from Windsor, Mr Macdonald attended a joint meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party Executive and the National Executive of the Labour Party at the Trade Union headquarters in London. Mr Macdonald announced his appointment to the Premiership. A full meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party has been summoned for June 27.

It is considered probable that Mr Ramsay Macdonald’s list of Cabinet Ministers will not be prepared for publication until later in the week and that the junior Ministerial posts will not be filled, until next week. After he has completed these and other necessary arrangements the new Prime Minister hopes to take a few days rest prior to the assembly of Parliament, lie will go to Lossiemouth, his Scottish home. Mr Macdonald was the centre of an enthusiastic demonstration from his supporters when he drove this afternoon to a joint meeting of the executives of the Parliamentary Labour Party and the National Labour Party. Debts and Disarmament. A message from Paris says that, interviewed by the Petit Parisien, Mr Macdonald said he hoped immediately to get in touch with President Hoover regarding inter-Allied debts and disarmament and resume the discussions on a new basis. He intended to go right ahead with a policy of disarmament and peace. He appealed for general co-operation in Europe to accomplish the task and counted, above all, on France’s co-operation.

The interviewer suggested a tri-lateral agreement between Britain, France and Germany to secure peace in Europe, but Mr Macdonald, with an impatient gesture, said: “There is no question of an agreement or an alliance. We want, to start altogether a new era of European co-operation with no more rivalries and no more understandings for or against one another and no more secret diplomacy. What we want is fresh air, light and goodwill among the peoples. To this we shall devote our energies fill we achieve a decisive final result.’’—Australian Press Association.

CABINET NOT YET BEADY

200 MEMBERS SEEKING OFFICE.

THE LEGISLATIVE PROGR.AMME.

(Rec. 5.5 p.m.)

London, June. 5.

The fxjlitical representative of the Sun attended at Transport House where the Labour Party Executive meeting was held this afternoon. He learns that Mr Macdonald's Cabinet is not finally completed, but will probably be announced on Saturday, when Mr Macdonald submits a full list Io his Majesty, immediately after which the names will be published. It has been decided to open immediately a great victory and thanksgiving fund to which all sections of the movement will be invited to contribute in order to carry on the party’s work of strengthening the organization in readiness for the next General Election. Undoubtedly one of Mr -Macdonald’s great difficulties is that roughly 200 members are seeking office, but he is determined to decide absolutely single-handed who will be his Ministers. He conversed with Lord Arnold in his motor car outside. Lord Arnold is a probable member of the Cabinet. Lord Arnold indicated that decisions had already been taken regarding the new Government’s immediate course of action. One of the first steps will be in connection with Anglo-American relations. “'The Baldwin Administration’s chilly handling of these issues largely caused their defeat,” said Lord Arnold. “Discussions will proceed as soon as the new American Ambassador, Mr C. G. Dawes, arrives regarding the limitation of arms.”

Lord Arnold, while admitting Labour was faced with great problems, expressed optimism and the conviction that the change was for the better. It was not proposed to prolong the forthcoming sitting of Parliament, which meets on June 25. The first duty of the House will be to elect a Speaker, who will be Captain Fitzroy, then members will be sworn in, which will occupy a week. The Government will not invite Parliament immediately to consider important legislative measures. The fact that Parliament is not equipped for serious business until the second week in July at the earliest makes it impossible for the House of Commons to tackle the legislative programme before the summer holidays. No legislation will be required to give effect to Labour’s intention to press for a speedy convocation of the General Disarmament Conference nor in connection with the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Russia. Similarly much will be done in the domestic sphere, such as housing and education.

There is reason to believe that Labour intends to do considerable work in connection with these and unemployment relief by the administrative machine. Labour also intends immediately to deal with widows’, orphans’ and old age pensions and unemployment insurance. It is believed that Mr Philip Snowden will greatly revise Mr Churchill’s second Finance Bill. He is strongly opposed to Mr Churchill’s betting tax arrangement, and also denounces the reduction of liquor licenses. Manv doubt whether Mr Churchill’s second Finance Bill will ever see the light.—Australian Press Association. LORD CHANCELLORSHIP POSITION REPORTED FILLED. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, June 5. The Daily Mail states that Mr Justice Sandey has accepted the Lord Chancellorship. It is understood that Mr Macdonald is creating a number of peers to strengthen the Labourites in the blouse of Lords, including Mr Sidney Webb.—United Service. CARES OF OFFICE RELIEF FOR FORMER MINISTERS. (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) London, June 6. It is popularly supposed that Ministers dislike surrendering office, but the political writer on the Daily Mail says that Mr Baldwin and his colleagues appear to be considerably relieved, notably Sir Austen Chamberlain, who yesterday was busy

weeding his rock garden at Twytts Chyll, his Sussex home.

Mr Baldwin, who is re-starting tennis, purchased a friend’s second-hand racquet. Mr Churchill spent the last two days demudding a stream running through his garden at his Westerham (Kent) home. He is now free to enter the city and will shortly be offered bank and insurance company directorships. He has also signed contracts for journalistic work. He has undertaken up to date to do the history of his ancestor, the great Duke of Marlborough.—United Service.