CABLE NEWS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2172, 23 April 1908, Page 2

CABLE NEWS

DEATH OF SIR HENRY CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN.

(Received Anril 23, 12.7 a.in.) LONDON, April 22. Obituary: Sir Henry CampbellBannerman.

The late Sir Henry Campbell-Ban-nerman was one of the foremost figures in recent British politics. Born in 1836, he was nearly 72 years of ago, and during late years had suffered from indifferent liealth. Early in 1900, and soon after becoming Prime Minister, lie experienced a severe loss in the death of his wife, and for a time suffered deeply from the bereavement. He had always been on the Liberal side of tho House of Commons since he was first electwl to represent Stirling AVest in 1868, and has been the recognised leader of the Liberal party since 1899. When the Balfour Ministry went out of office in December, 1905. Sir Henry was annointod Prime Minister, and held the reins of Government until April 6, when his failing health compelled him to relinquish office. His term of office has been marked by the passing and the advocacy of some of the most liberal and democratic proposals ever known in England, and among his political enemies it was feared that* tile conservative equilibrium of the grand old nation -would be irremediably upset. The new Education Bill, in which an attempt was made to obtain State control of all church schools, the new Licensing Bill, the foreshadowing of an old age nension scheme, the question of naval and army retrenchment, and the relations of the House of Commons with the House of Lords, were questions that stirred Great Britain from end;' to end, and showed the power of the late Prime Minister and liis Ministry. An earnest advocate of freetrade and liberal proposals. Sir Henry always lent a sympathetic ear to the amice of the Labor Party, and many of tlie more liberal measures were passed with -the help of votes from Labor representatives.. The power of the Camnbell-Bannennan Ministry and die deserved popularity of its late leader proved a severe set-back to Mr. Arthur Balfour, Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, and other tariff reformers, and with the exception of winning a casual by-election or two, the Chamberlain party havo shown very little indication of a return to strength. In January last Sir Henry Camp-bell-Bannerman was seized by a prevailing. epidemic of influenza, and with his impaired health was forced to retire to his house, Mr. H. H. Asquit'll, Chancellor of the Exchequer, assuming the office of Acting Prime Minister. From this illness Sir Henry never recovered. The latest bulletins regarding his -health indicated r gradual weakening and loss of vitality, and his decease is not therefore entirely unexpected. Created a Knight, Grand Cross of the Bath, in 1895, he was Financial Secretary for AVar from 1871 to 1874, and 1880 to 1882, Secretary to the Admiralty from 1882 to 1884, Chief Secretary for Ireland, 1884-1885, and Secretary for AA’ar in 1886 and from 1892 to 1895.