LORD NORTHCLIFFE DECLINES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16049, 6 February 1918, Page 2

LORD NORTHCLIFFE DECLINES.

TO TAKE PO&T OFFERED. BUT ACCEPTS A VISCOUNTY. (Auckland Star correspondent.) LONDON, Nov. 27. The pretty spectacle we have just had presented to us, a Northdiffe disclaming th© prQffoi'cd offie© of Air Minister, while in the same week he registers his acceptance of a viscounty, is one of the humorous—were it not so seviouS—happnings of the. moment. The scorn of the Neitholiffian refusal, its alleged-motive hia wish to get back to America and its efficiency rather than remain in; England blighted by the “muddling through” curse, appeals to the groundlings who see no farther than the immediate malaise of food shortage - -and the - ever-lengthening vista' of the war. ’ The groundlings do not read American papers, which are not swallowing bis unasked certificate undigested any more . than as- a democracy they like' not his excuse'that he could not accept being in sympathy with Mr. Lloyd George’s colleagues, One paper, has the temerity to say that the Viscount Northdiffe, “too ,often' blurts mit extreme .criticism ~of our (American) slowness and our preparations for anyone to .ascribe -sincerity to his eulogy.” .. . Let us suppose that Lord Northdiffe is sincere in his declining the office of Air Minister. The greatness of his'sincerity can then only be equalled by hw great lack of patriotism'. Mr. Lloyd George has > asked him jte assume an office of national importance. On Lord Northdiffe's pwn sKowins no one in the countryyhas such, knowledge of aviation as My Lord the Viscount Northdiffe, Yet fie refuses to save the nation because he does not like his colleagues. This, from the man who has been dragging the recalcitrant from funkholes since August, 1914, is passing strange. Extraordinary mentality, isn’t it, of the man most capable of pulling our naval and military aerial forces together to refuse to act just because he doesn’t like the other men in the Other Ministries! Why should John Smith have to shoulder arms at the word of command at the job Government think him most fitted for, when Lord What’s-his-Name can snv “Thank you, I am not in sympathy with you?’’