BRITISH CABINET

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20833, 17 June 1939, Page 7

BRITISH CABINET

CHANGE PROBABLE WILL PREMIER RETIRE? GENERAL ELECTION LIKELY (United Pres* Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, June 1C The retirement of the Prime Miniiter, Mr Chamberlain. la the , the establishment of a “Shadow Cabinet," changes in the Cabinet, and a general election in 1 fie autumn are being widely disc us wed. Undoubtedly the immediate reason for- the revival of lliese more or less familiar topics is reflection on a leading article in the Timet about “tired Ministers." Political circles, which do net expect any rpai development until the King returns, support the contention of the I'imes. that, firstly, the parrotcry. ‘Broaden tlie basis of Government." too often means a mere haphazard assemblage of well-known names from the public life of the past, representing profoundly divergent opinions on administration, politics, and strategy; secondly, it takes no account ol the competence of such a body to work together as a team. Tlie belief of the Times is that a greater imagination and more frequent experiments are needed in trying out all possibilities, whether they are already in Parliament or outside. Responsibility of Ministers It is pointed out that Mr Chamberlain could win applause by moving In the same direction as when lie appointed Lord Chatlleld as Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, bj taking into the Cabinet men with great administrative ability but no Ministerial experience to assist Ministers in discharging part of their heavy responsibilities. From this suggestion is growing the Idea that Mr Chamberlain may even now envisage a “shadow Cabinet”—the creation of a group of capable, Iried and proved Ministerial apprentices against the time when lie leaves the political held and someone else chooses future Cabinets. The Times draws attention to the quickened pace of public life, and says: ‘ How untrue it is to say that while British Ministers take their week-ends in the country, the dictators take countries at the week-end. The very strength of the Government’s majority increases the pressure, because there is no prospect of those periodic spoils in Opposition which have been the salvation of statesmen in the past. Virtue, Not Suicide ‘‘Several Cabinet Ministers know' In their own hearts that they would be more efficient for a rest, but that is not to say that the best of them, who are also the hardest worked, can possibly be allowed to rest. Now that would be sheer disaster and it would create a deplorable impression abroad if Ministers w'ere to break down. “I should be recognised that retirement is an act of virtue, not of suicide. Let the process of trial and error go on. Whatever may be thought about .Mr Chamberlain and Lord Halifax, it is a patent fact that not every tired Minister is indispensable.” LEADER OF OPPOSITION TO UNDERGO AN OPERATION (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received June 17, 1 p.m.) 'LONDON, June 16 Mr C. R. Attlee, Leader of the Labour Opposition in the House of Commons, is in a London nursing home, and will undergo a major operation uii Tuesday. SUCCESSION TO PEERAGE SEVEN BY-ELECTIONS PENDING (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, June 15 Another by-election has been necessitated by the succession to the peerage of the Hon. Ivor Guest, M.P. for Brecon and Radnor, on the death of his father, Viscount Wimbourne. There arc now’ seven by-elections pending. NEW BRITISH MINISTRY RESENTMENT IN GERMANY CRITICISM OF AUSTRALIA (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel, Copyright) LONDON, June 1 G Commenting on the proposed British “Ministry of Propaganda," the Nazi official newspaper Volkischer Beobachtcr says the appointment of Mr Reginald Leeper, “who is an Australian, belonging to a race of men who have always taken up an anti-German attitude, shows that the new department is directed solely against Germany.” Mr Leeper is head of the press section at the Foreign Office. ‘He was horn in Sydney, and has had a distinguished career in the Diplomatic Service and the Foreign Office.