CALL FOR CABINET CHANGES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22201, 19 February 1942, Page 5

CALL FOR CABINET CHANGES

Incompetents Should Be Removed House Less Sympathetic To Leader By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Rec. 6.3 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 17. The House of Commons was less sympathetic towards Mr Churchill to-day than at any time since he assumed the office of Prime Minister. The general demeanour of the House indicated that a desire for a change in the personnel of the Government was fairly widespread. Some London newspapers warn Mr Churchill that he cannot carry on singlehanded. They ask him to get rid of incompetents who are hindering the war effort. The “Daily Herald” says: “We need a Prime Minister with time to think and a War Cabinet with time to think.” The “Daily Mirror” saying that Mr Churchill’s burden is too heavy, suggests that he should appoint a Defence Minister while he remains Prime Minister. The best of his colleagues should be relieved of harrassing departmental duties and retained in a small War Cabinet with the task of surveying the war as a whole. Mr Churchill’s worst or inefficient colleagues should be removed. The "News Chronicle” says: "Mr Churchill must hand over or at least delegate his responsibilities which events have shown are not compatible with the role of a national leader. He must establish a War Council comparable with the War Cabinets of 1917 and 1918 which will share with him the direction of policy as a whole.” A private meeting of Midland members of the House of Commons passed a resolution affirming confidence in Mr Churchill, but calling for serious attention to the grave feeling of unrest and doubt. The resolution also urged such change in administration as to secure the coordination of defence services and the reconstruction of the War Cabinet for the purpose of relieving members of departmental responsibility.