POLITICAL CHANGES

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20207, 29 May 1937, Page 7

POLITICAL CHANGES

MR BALDWIN’S RETIREMENT. SUCCEEDED BY MR NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN “TROUBLOUS DAYS AHEAD,” PREDICTED IN LONDON United Press Association—Eleotrio Telegraph Copyright. LONDON, May 28. The Prime Minister, Mr Stanley Baldwin, laid down the burden of office to-day. He arrived at the Palace at 9.30 a.m. and was immediately ushered into the presence of the King. Mr Baldwin tendered his resignation and advised His Majesty to commission Mr Neville Chamberlain to form a Cabinet. The King accepted Mr Baldwin’s resignation and his advice. A handful of spectators cheered Mr Baldwin as he left the Palace carrying Their Majesties’ parting gift photographs of themselves. Mr Chamberlain arrived at the Palace later, accompanied by an officer from Scotland Yard. King George granted an audience to Mr Ramsay MacDonald at Buckingham Palace at 11 a.m., and received his resignation from the Cabinet.

THE NEW REGIME. CONSERVATIVES TO MEET. MR. BALDWIN TO TAKE HOLIDAY. BY-ELECTIONS NECESSARY. (Official Wireless.) (Received iMay 29, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, May 28. A meeting of the Conservative Party to appoint Mr. Neville Chamberlain to succeed Mr. Stanley Baldwin as leader will be held on Monday. Viscount Halifax will preside and it is understood that Mr. Baldwin will not be present. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin are leaving London to-day to spend a few weeks at The Chequers while a new London home is being prepared for their occupation. Meanwhile the new Prime Minister will move in to No. 10 Downing Street The formalities in connection with Ml*. Baldwin’s resignation took place before 10 o’clock this morning, when Mr. Baldwin was received by the King in His Majesty’s private apartments at Buckingham Palace. Mr. Baldwin having formally intimated his wish to be relieved of office and his resignation having been accepted, the King, on the advice of the retiring Prime Minister, sent for Mr. Neville Chamberlain, who arrived at the Palace about 11 o’clock and. was at once received in audience by iHis Majesty, who asked him to form a Government. Mr. Chamberlain accepted the invitation, and kissed the King’s hand, on his appointment as Prime Minister. The resignations of all members of the Government were, it was understood, already in the possession of Mr. Chamberlain. By-elections Pending. In addition to seven by-elections now pending, three seats in the House of Commons will become vacant owing tc the elevation to the House of Lords of members of Parliament announced to-day in the honours list. The seats are those at present held by Mr. Stanley Baldwin, in the Bewdley Division of Worcestershire; Sir J. Davidson (Nationalist Conservative), in the (Hemel Hempsted Division of Hertfordshire; and Mr. W. Runciman. Mr. Neville Chamberlain’s Cabinet Is composed of 21 members, one less than that of Mr. Baldwin. The Cabinet is composed of 15 Conservatives, four Liberal Nationals and two National Labour members. Meeting of Privy Council. The Ministers affected toy the changes in the Cabinet were received by the King at a meeting ol' the Privy Council. They exchanged seals, took the oaths, and kissed the King’s hand on their appointment. Mr. M. J. Savage (New Zealand)' and the Canadian Minister of Justice, Mr. Lapointe, attended the meeting. The Duke of Kent, who was made a Privy Councillor in the honours list was introduced into the council. The Junior Ministers. There is a considerable number of changes among the junior Ministers, including the following:— Captain Euan Wallace leaves the Department of Overseas Trade to become Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, and is succeeded by Mr. R. S. Hudson, former Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health, a position which is taken by a newcomer to ministerial ranks. •Mr. R. H. Bernays, Liberal National member of Parliament, remains Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs. The law* officers and Scottish law officers remain unchanged, as also the Postmaster-General, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The law officers and Scottish law officers remain unchanged, as also the Postmaster-General, the Minister of Pensions and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. Captain Margession continues as Chief Whip.

CRITICISM OF CABINET. TROUBLOUS DAYS AHEAD. SURPRISE EXPRESSED IN LONDON. EFFECT OF INTERNAL POLITICS. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. (Received May 29, 1.0 p.m.) LONDON, May 28. The Cabinet as a whole is not enthusiastically received, but Mr Chamberlain could do little else with the material available. Lord Stanley’s appointment, like that

MR NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN.

of Sir S. Hoare and Earl de Warr, was obviously traceable to internal politics, rather than particular fitness for the job. Surprise is expressed that so many Cabinet changes were made in the middle of the Imperial Conference, especially the shuffling of Ministers like Sir S. Hoare and Mr A. Duff-Cooper, who have already addressed the conference as specialists in their own particular .sphere, while Mr Runciman, who only yesterday made an important speech on the economic situation, disappears from the Cabinet. Mr Chamberlain will assume the leadership with, trouble awaiting him. Several of his influential baok-benchers are tabling a motion for the rejection of the national defence tax. One Slmonite whip has already resigned as a result of the tax. Troublous days are ahead in the House of Commons.

HONOURS CONFERRED. MR BALDWIN AN EARL. MR RUN Cl MAN A VISCOUNT. MRS BALDWIN DAME GRAND CROSS United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright LONDON, May 28. The King has conferred an earldom on Mr Baldwin, and Mrs Baldwin becomes a Dame Grand Cross of the British Empire. Mr Baldwin has been appointed a Knight of the Garter. Mr Walter Runciman, President of the Board of Trade, has received a viscounlcy. Sir John Davidson, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, receives a viscountcv. Sir Geoffrey Storrs Fry, Mr Baldwin’s personal private secretary, becomes a K.c.B. (Knight Commander of the Bath). The delegates to the Imperial Conference from the Dominions join in the tributes. Mr M. J. Savage (Now Zealand) said: “| regret Air Baldwin’s retirement. I have found him to be a man of Intense human Interest and most kindly disposition. He Is a great philosopher and has great influence in strengthening British democracy by his clearly expressed Ideals of democracy’s alms.” Mr .1. A. Lyons (Australia said: Mr Baldwin typifies much that Is best in British character* He has earned the of sii nUu^a. 11