THE COLONIST. Published Every-(Morning). Monday, April 11, 1910. CHANGES IN THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12765, 11 April 1910, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Every-(Morning). Monday, April 11, 1910. CHANGES IN THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Many changes have been wrought in the British Parliament sinco' tho recent dissolution, 'retirement and defeat at the polls having removed some notable 7 figures which had been identified, with St. Stephen's for long periods. Among those who did not seek re-election was the ' Father of tho House, Sir Jolin Ken na way, member for East Devon,, who was first returned by that constituency in 1870,. and represented it continuously .since. A member otlonger. standing was Mr J. G. Talbot; ■; who difed within a few weeks of his retirement/ but he had changed his. constituency. '.. Sir Francis Powell was another "veteran who did not again face the -poll. He was first elected in 1857/: but did not sit continuously. The distinction of being ; Fatlier of the House now falls to Mr Burt, member for Morpeth, who was first elected in 1874, and who as •Secretary of the Northumberland Miners' Union, and President of the Trades Union Congress in years gone by, did yeoman service in the cause of labour. Of Mivßurty the Parliamentary -.'correspondent of "The Times" writesthat if the dignity to which he has succeeded were conferred by choice instead of seniority-, it is more than probable that it would still be his, for in a long Parliamentary career ho has won not only the respect, but,, it may be saidj the affection of men. ofAalhparties.- ,. The. : retirement of MT*-Herbeft' Gladstone followed on his -a'pp&ntment as the prospective Gov-ernor-General of South Africa. Among the members who retired at the general election was Mr James Caldwell, who rendered useful work as DeputyChairman of Committees. Sir Bonja- 1 mm Stone, who, while at Westminster'had made it his business to photograph all the politicians of his day, in order to make a valuable addition to the national records, will now no longer enlivon the afternoons by grouping members on tho terrace before his camera. Mr" Buchanan has retired from Parlia:r.?irt, huwiig first resigned the Under-Secretarj'ship at the India Office, now held by. the Master of Elibank. Sir John Brunner, who, although he never held office, was for some time a power in the Liberal ' Party with whom- Ministers had' .to 'reckon, is another of thoso members whoso personality will ■» missed; Political life in the Old Country has beoome much more strenuous of recent years. The sittings of Parliament are now continuous, there being no dinner adjournment, the number of divisions is greater, and the sessions are longer,' features which are forcing out the older hands, whose health -is proving unequal to the strain. A number of Liberals retired who were out of sympathy with some of the Budget proposals, ad the inference is not unnaturally drawn that they feel that -tlie- parting of the ways has been reached, and that they cannot subscribe to the new articles of the Liberal creed. Among the Liberals who were at one time dubbed "The Cave" who retired are Sir J. Dickson-Poynder, Mr Everett, Mr Ridsdale, Mr Whitebread,Mr Paulton, Mr F. W. Chance, Sir T. Glen-Coats, Mr J. C. Cheetham, Mr J. Bertram, and Sir Robert Perks, whovhas left .none in doubt as to the nature of his sentiments. One or two others who stood again, among tbem Sir; Edward Tennant, have been defeated. The Unionist party is now almost solidly in favour of Tariff Reform, Lord Hugh Cecil being the only Unionist Free Trader in the House. The defeat of his brother, Lord Robert Cecil, is regretted by all parties; He entered Parliament when Lord Hugh Cecil was' defeated, -and-now- that he himself has suffered the same fate, Lord Hugh Cecil has been elected as junior member for Oxford- University. The defeats of Messrs Harold Cox and J. Massie mean the loss of useful members to the Liberal side. Mr Cecil Harmsworth is also a loss to the party j he had won the' respect of the ;House, and the value of his - contributions to debate was recognised. On 'the'Uniqnist side a notable defeat was that of- Sir George;. Doughty, who is very' popular "as a, platform orator. Sir Arthur BignoldV failure to hold Wick Burghs was also .unexpected.