Mr. Chamberlain’s Career.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue XVIII, 3 November 1900, Page 832

Mr. Chamberlain’s Career.

“1 am the best-abused man in England,” said Mr Chamberlain on one

occasion; but in fairness it must be added one of the most clever. From provincial town councillor to a leading Cabinet Minister was a c insiderable jump; and everyone admits that the Colonial Secretary cleared splendidly.

Providence, fortune, chance —call it what you like —takes many sharp twists whilst leading a man onward, and one of these sudden diversions turned Joseph Chamberlain out of the beaten track at the age of eighteen. His father had given him a sound education. There was nothing of the Eton or Harrow style about it. Practical and commercial, it probably be t suited the entry into the parental business of boot and shoe manufacturer. When the majority of our future legislators were playing in the fields of public schools, young Joseph was settled amongst the boots and shoes at Camberwell.

Two years spun by, until a Birmingham uncle of the name of Nettlefold got hold of something good in screws. He had bought the English rights of a patent for self-acting screw-making machinery, which promised to drive the old blunt-nosed screw from the market. Tapering to a point, this American invention worked its way into soft wood without the aid of a gimlet. The uncle found, however, that he wanted more money to place the screws on the market, and approached his brother-in-law. Chamberlain senior, like a shrewd man, did what was required of him, and also sent his eldest son Joseph down into Birmingham to represent his interest. No better choice could have been made, for the lad possessed keen business instincts. When he grasped the position, he found the firm had formerly jogged along with the manufacture of woollen screws against “cutting competition. The trade generally had been ruined by low prices, whilst many of the makers worked in their small shops like ordinary mechanics.

Like many other excellent improvements, the new screw did not came into favour at once. The first year Nettlefold and Chamberlain made a loss. The second year ditto, and so for the third year, and right on to the fifth.

But Joseph, now twenty-three, smartened the firm’s methods, and introduced “push” and “go” throughout all the departments. Two or three competitors were, on his suggestion, honourably, even bought out. Further improvements resulted in the machinery permitting' quicker production of a superior article, which enabled the manufacturers to sell it at a lower price. At length people began to recognise that nothing' could beat Nettlefold and Chamberlain’s screw. The hundred-and-one trades requiring such articles would have theirs, and nothing else. Bit by bit as the years went on the business increased. Other industries such as file production of wire—were introduced, until from small proportions the firm had grown to one of the largest in Birmingham, and employed 2,000 hands. Twenty years of industry brought their reward, and at the comparatively early age of thirty-eight, when most men are hoping to make money, Mr Chamberlain sold out of the business, with a big fortune, to devote himself to public life. The acquisition of wealth did not itself assure the future Prime Minister’s position. It affected the manner in which he climbed the ladder, but to discover the starting-point of his public career we must go back a few Soon after settling in Birmingham the young manufacturer joined a literary and debating society in the suburbs of Edgbaston. With a strong desire for culture he yet had no idea of public speech. A retiring youth, without the gift of fluency on his lips, he attempted one evening to. join in the debate. Imperfectly prepared and difident of his powers he did badly, and went home disgusted, resolved never to speak again. But young Joseph’s grit and common sense demanded another and a worthier attempt. Some time beforehand he commenced to reml up the question, and committed to paper the

[Klints he thus obtained. When the time came he was in much better form, and thus encouraged he pursued the same steady course of self-improve-ment.

"1 recognised from the first,” said Mr Chamberlain, speaking of this Interesting experience, “that the matter might be excellent, but the manner and delivery essentially defective. It was this feeling which prompted me to labour so carefully at ‘getting up’ the subjects on which 1 intended to speak.

“My object was so to saturate myself with the topic—to have it so thoroughly at my fingers’ ends—that even if, in the excitement of the moment, and amid the general oblivion of all previous resolutions which besets most youthful speakers when they find themselves on their legs, I forgot any portions of my speech, planned beforehand, but not actually written out, I might still have abundance of ideas to fall back upon from which to manufacture a suitable oration as I went on.

“By careful study and earnest perseverance I at last attained the fluency I desired, though it was long before I would trust myself to speak on a

subject which I had not studied previously with considerable care.” At this Edgbaston Mutual Improvement Society Mr Chamberlain with such infinite pains mastered the rudiments of speech making and learnt something of the marvellous power of exposing the weak points of antagonists, and dealing those lightning-like blows of repartee which have floored his opponents' arguments in later years. Here, too, he found the ladder to carry him to the top. Thus, with wealth, a splendid municipal record as thrice Mayor of Birmingham, and, above all, marvellous powers of oratory, it hardly seems surprising that the opportunity quickly came for the Colonial Secretary to plant his foot securely on the first rung. Two years after he left business Mr George Dixon wanted to retire from Parliamentary life. With one accord the Liberal party sought out Mr Chamberlain. He was the most popular man in the city. The working classes good humouredly spoke and thought of him as Joey, and without opposition he was returned member of Parliament for Birmingham on June 26, 1576. Five weeks afterwards he delivered

his maiden speech. Hisfamehad outrun him to Westminster, and much Interest was aroused as the youthful looking figure, with clean shaven face, eye glass in eye, faultlessly attired in a close fitting frock coat, decorated with a fine orehid, rose to speak. “I have so recently entered the House,” commenced Mr Chamberlain, “that I feel rather reluctant to trespass on its attention at this time. 1 feel that I shall best show my respect for the assembly 1 was so proud to enter by abstaining, whilst yet inexperienced in its forms and practice, from troubling it with any remaiks of mine. The subject—education—before the House is, however, one in which I have so much experience that it would hardly be honest if I remained silent.”

Lord Beaconsfield, who was in his private room behind the Speaker’s chair, quickly sauntered into his place when he heard that Mr Chamberlain was on his legs. Mr Disraeli raised his eye glass and closely scrutinised the speaker, a compliment he rarely paid any member. Thus Mr Chamberlain got his feet on the first rung of the ladder of Parliamentary success.