THE MEN AT THE TOP.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17935, 31 July 1920, Page 5

THE MEN AT THE TOP.

POLITICAL LEADERS OF THft E.yPIRE. AS SEEN BY A YOUNG NEW ZEALANDER. One of our readers has forwarded us au extract from a letter of a young New Zealand . indent who is now in England, and who visited the House of Commons and takes a deep interest in the political affairs of the Empire. It is interesting to see how one of our young people is impressed by the political leaders of England. The following is a.-i extract from a private letter: “The main topic of conversation in England at present is the Irish question. The Home Rule Bill has passed its second leading this week by a large majority, but no one seems to want it and matters are very complicated by the outbreaks and disorders in Ireland itself. I was in the House of Commons last week and was fortunate enough to hear rather an important debate on the Foreign Policy, in which Asquith, Lloyd George, Clynes and Lord Robert Cecil took part. I had heard Asquith before, but it was my first experience of Lloyd George. Asquith strikes me as being essentially an old man at the head of a dying party. His speeches tola of intellectual capacity and of dialectical ability, and a wide magnanimity which it would be difficult to equal, and his speeches make excellent reading as pieces of English prose 'n the morning papers, but their delivery is hesitating, cold and uninspiring. I do not think he is capable of ever leading the Liberal Party out of i,s present rather precarious position. Lloyd George's speech was rather tame and disappointing to begin with, but after a little heckling he warmed to the subject and showed us a little Welsh tire. He is c'early ihe corner stone of the preseni House of Commons—the one indispensable. Without him a general election would be only a matter of weeks—perhaps days. He is a most difficult man to form any definite opinion about. I thing that his deeper instincts are still true and sound, but he is so susceptible to his environment and so loth to let slip any opportunity of improving his position that nis true instincts are being’pushed mere and more into the background. However, I am still giving him the benefit of the doubt, hoping that ha won’t burn all the bridges which lead back to the paths of his youth.”