MORE CABINET CHANGES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21088, 14 July 1938, Page 8

MORE CABINET CHANGES

Moving Five Million People RAILWAY ACCIDENTS (From Our Own Correspondent/ • LONDON, June 2. There are rumours of further cabinet changes. Mr Chamberlain is credited with the intention of forming an inner cabinet of six to run the vital affairs of the country and ensure speedier decisions on pressing matters. This would mean the retirement of several more Ministers. Those forecast for the “axe” include Mr Duff Cooper, First Lord of the Admiralty, and Lord Hailsham, Lord President of the Council.

By-elections notoriously go against a Government, but it is said that the Prime Minister is perturbed by the increasing vote against his administration recorded in the constituencies. He plans to strengthen his team at the weak spots in readiness for the lext general election. This may come sooner than many people expect. An autumn appeal is mentioned in political circles as a distinct possibility. Much depends on whether Mr Chamberlain can add yet another diplomatic success tc his record of European appeasement. Foreign affairs are destined to loom rge in Bntisn politics for a long time to come.

iVIr Lloyd George’s New Book A book by Mr Lloyd George cannot fail to prove the signal for the lighting of innumerable controversial tonfires. With the ashes of previous nflagrations still smouldering, the form?r Prime Minister has found time, amid his agricultural activities, to complete his promised book on the peace treaties. Publication is expected soon. The Czecho-Siovakian question Is dealt with fully in a manner that will arouse criticism from people of normally divergent views. Some of those closest to Mr Lloyd George in politics are likeiy to find themselves in disagreement with the distinguished author.

Apparently Britain’s Premier at the time of the Peace Treaty, 20 years ■j.

was told that there were li million Germans (instead of 3i millions' in the area proposed for the new state which was to arise out of the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. The error was not discovered until after the Treaty was signed. Ever since, Mr Lloyd George has felt much sympathy for the minority which he now contends has been consistent!;’ illtreated.

War-Time Evacuation Plans Various plans for the evacuation of civilian populations from big cities in war-time are being studied by the recently appointed Home Office committee under the chairmanship of Sir John Anderson, former Governor of Bengal.

They have been impressed by the detailed arrangements made by the French Government for the immediate transfer oT li million people from Paris. London’s problems are more complicated. It is estimated that between two and three million people, living in congested areas where buildings have no cellars, would have to be moved.

In conjunction with the railway companies and the London Passenger | Transport Board a scheme is k ’ng | drafted to provide for the necessary i conveyances. The problem of w' 're ; to billet the people thus uprooted is less easily solved. i Hundred New Towns

j A rather startling proposal has been I put forward for the building of a hunI dred new self-contained towns well away from the zones considered especially dangerous in time of war.

Each town would house about 50,000 people—s,ooo,ooo in all—drawn from London, and other crowded cities. Factories would be erected and fruit, vegetables and milk produced locally to meet local needs. Sites have already been chosen —76 in England, 15 in Scotland and 9 in Wales.

The plan, which is backed by many influential people including Sir Edwin Lutyens, the architect, is not designed as a war-time emergency scheme but as a contribution towards the solution of pressing picll'iis of housing, industrial efficiency and (he preservation of natural beauties. If put into operation now the proposals might simplify the work of eva uacion should war come, or possibly render that evacuation unnecessary. Arms Race Casualties German lives have already been sacrificed in the cause of German rearmament. As often happens it is the civilians who are paying the price. One consequence of the demands of the armament factories for steel is the lessening of safety on the railways of the Reich.

A candid report recently issued from Berlin admits that during the first nine months of last year casualties on the railways increased by 189 per cent and the chief cause was the restricted supplies of steel available. Lack of skilled labour and delays in delivery were also blamed.

Owing to the shortage of steel, 40 per cent, of the rails due for renewal each year are being retained. Discarded stock, has been rescued from the

scrap-heap and put into service again. Worn-out metal sleepers have been patched up. or wooden ones substituted. The results of all this economy are reflected in the accident figures.

Abolishing Capital Punishment Should the death penalty, still legal in England, be abolished? Few questions have excited more public controversy than this. Societies and individuals have campaigned strenuously and tirelessly for the ending of the practice, without making any appreciable advance. Supporters of the change may grow in numbers but the law remains unaltered.

A final appeal from the condemned cell is still possible and it then becomes the unenviable duty of the Home Secretary to decide whether the murderer shall live or die. It has long been contended that no one should have such a responsibility. The records of recent years show that some Home Secretaries have been prone to exercise their power of clemency more than others. The present Minister, Sir Samuel Hoare, has grant;ed an unusual number of reprieves. | Half the death sentences now imposed ! are not carried out. Though welcoming Sir Samuel’s zeal I for prison reform some MP’s, are dis- ; turbed over what they term a back- : door method of gradually abolishing ; the death sentence for murder. The i matter is to be raised in the House of 1 Commons.