SELECTIONS APPROVED

Southland Times, Issue 25746, 9 August 1945, Page 5

SELECTIONS APPROVED

ATMOSPHERE OF GOODWILL CRITICISM ABSENT LONDON, August 7. Comment on Mr Attlee’s selection of his Ministry is generally one of approval. There is little doubt tliat the new Government will set about its giant task in an atmosphere of goodwill.

This present absence of criticism is due to two facts: First, that Laboui’ has the clearest possible mandate from the country, and that they are in no mood to indulge in petty obstructions. Second, it is realized that the result of the election caused considerable surprise abroad and there is a general desire ‘to avoid any suggestion that the country is divided against itself, but rather that it is united in facing the difficult days ahead. Criticism will, of course, be heard in the House of Commons in due time from the Opposition benches, but there is a lot in common between the programmes of Labour and the Conservatives, and much Labour legislation will merely be implementing the Coalition Government’s White Paper.

OPPOSITION CRITICISM Where criticism by the Opposition can be expected- will be on the proposals for nationalization. There is no doubt that the Opposition will fight, and fight hard, on the occasions when these measures are being discussed. It is remarked that Mr Attlee has been orthodox in appointing his Ministry, and that, contrary to expectations, he has not set up a Ministry of Housing, or i transferred the India Office to the Dominions Office. A notable feature is the reversion from a small War Cabinet to a larger Cabinet of the prewar type. It is not a youthful Cabinet, the average age being 61, but, with a number of younger men among the junior Ministers, the average age of the administration is reduced to 54. It is commented that preference has evidently been given to established Parliamentarians and welltried trade union officials, and shows that Mr Attlee has been content, for the present, not to stray far from the well-beaten path. Interest has been aroused by several appointments, for instance, that of Mr George Isaacs to the Ministry of Labour. He is a trade union leader with a reputation for courage and conciliation. . Another is that of Mr Chuter Ede, who goes to the Home Office with a reputation of being an acknowledged expert in the work of the Ministry of Education.

Mr Aneurin Bevan’s appearance at the Ministry of Health is regarded as unconventional. He is noted for his talent for destructive criticism, and the opinion is expressed that, if his ability for administration is as good, he should go far. MR NOEL-BAKER’S POST Special attention has been called to the appointment of Mr Philip NoelBaker as Minister of State, and it is presumed that he will be concerned with Britain’s relationship to the United Nations, also to Mr Griffiths, who is Minister of National Insurance. He is stated to have long been earmarked as one of Labour’s coming men. The opinion is expressed that the Minister of Civil Aviation (Lord Winster) will not be any dummy Minister, for he has both wit and high intelligence. Notable new arrivals at Whitehall are Mr H. B. Marquand, Professor of Industrial Relations at University College, Cardiff, who is Secretary for Overseas Trade, and Mr Harold Wilson, a young Oxford economist, who is Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works. It is considered that Dr Edith Summerskill will be a tonic for the Ministry of Food, while Mr Hector McNeil, who is only 35, has given an excellent start as Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs. The most picturesque appointment is that of Mr W. J. Edwards, who is a former stoker, and now Civil Lord of the Admiralty. He is the first sailor from the lower deck to hold a political office at the Admiralty. He is stated to have been a popular. and efficient backbencher.