KING RECEIVES CABINET

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1929, Page 9

KING RECEIVES CABINET

PRESENTATION OF SEALS

MISS BONDFIELD’S HONOUR

PROGRAMME IN THE HOUSE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—C&pyrlght. Australian Press Association. Received June 9. 11 p.m. London, June 9. Large crowds assembled at Windsor Castle to see the members of the new Cabinet arrive. A journalist asked Miss Bondfield if she was nervous. She replied: “Oh no. After 40 years spent in blazing the trail one ceases to become over-excited, though I feel highly honoured in making history as the first woman to enter a Cabinet.” After receiving the seals of office, Mr. MacDonald made the following statement: “Myself and my colleagues were highly delighted to find the King looking so well and to see how magnificently he was able to go through the ceremony without any sign of strain or ill-effect.” A Court circular to-night pointed out that the King's • physician, Lord Dawson of Penn, was sworn in io the Privy Council along with members of the new Cabinet, thus avoiding a. separate ceremony. When they returned to London the Cabinet met at Downing Street and the Ministers visited the departments. When Parliament meets on June 25 Captain Fitzroy will be re-elected speaker of the House.' Mr. Robert Young (Labour) will be nominated as Deputy-Speaker after the formal opening with the King’s Speech on July 2. The Government is not expected to encounter serious difficulty during the debate on the Address-iu-Reply, after which Parliament will adjourn for a week, and thereafter till October, when the Government will introduce its main legislative proposals. The Daily Herald (the Labour paper) commenting on the new Ministry claims that Mr. MacDonald's is a truly national Government. It adds: “The eyes of expectant millions throughout the world are upon the new Ministry and it will not disappoint them.” The Daily Chronicle states it is a stronger Cabinet than the Labour Ministry of 1924. Some had foreseen features such, as Sir John Sankey’s appointment, which is universally approved, but none had foreseen the appointment of Mr. Sydney Webb as Secretary for the Dominions, which will be regarded as equally admirable. “UN QUEST lONA BLY ST ROXG.” The Daily Express states Mr. MacDonald had made a good job. He had been guided by the necessity of administering departments and ability to explain and defend departments in the House. Judged from these viewpoints the Cabinet was unquestionably strong. Miss Bondfield’s appointment possessed novelty, but she bad the respect of the House aiyl would do well. Altogether it was an impressive Cabinet, and the nation hoped and believed that before it had run its course much good would have been done. The Morning Post says it is probably as good a Cabinet as a Socialist Prime Minister could have formed. It asks: “Does not Mr. Jowitt’s conversion prove that Liberalism is not a barrier against Socialism but a bridge to it.” Tho Daily Telegraph states Mr. Henderson’s appointment as Foreign Secretary can hardly be welcomed. It is well to remember he went to Geneva in 1924 and initialled the ill-omened protocol. Mr. Webb, no doubt, has been awaiting a call to the Upper House. Tho Daily Mail says: “What the country wants is a sober, businesslike administration. If Mr. MacDonald gives that bis Government may last a good deal longer than some prophets imagine. The Times comments: “Mr. Sydney Webb's organising mind should have a chance to display itself, for no field offers more promising opportunity than that allotted to him.” The Times states Mr. Webb's transference to the Lords, which seems to follow as a- matter of course, perhaps will help keep Empire questions outside party politics, but it will necessitate the most careful selection of his undersecretary in the House of Commons. The new members of Cabinet, clad in the traditional frock coats and silk hats, and including the outstandingly attired Sir Oswald Mosely, took a special train to Windsor and were driven in state in landaus with liveried coachmen to tho Castle. There was held the first meeting of the Privy Council to swear in Ministers who were non-members of the council, including Miss Bondfield, who is its first woman member. Afterwards they wont to the audience chamber where each received the seal of office and kissed the King's hand.