THE NEW CABINET.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 114, 31 May 1937, Page 6

THE NEW CABINET.

"Troublous days'7 are foretold for Great Britain's new Prime Minister andj, of course, it was fully to be expected that the change in leadership should occasion some considerable ruffling of political "waters. Particularly was this to be anticipated in a coalition Government in which three parties formerly distinct are represented. It was not altogetber with ease that even Mr. Baldwin* with all his genius for reconciling differences, was able to hold them together, for more than one little revolt took place during his tenure of office. His resignation will no doubt afford an opportiinity that will not be missed for malcontents to voice their grievances. It is speciajly unfortunate for him, too, that his accession to the Prime Ministership should fall at a time when one of the main taxation proposals put forward.by him as Chancellor; of the Exchequer should have met with anything but a cordial receptiom should indeed he under hot discussion. Although he has now handed over the Treasury keys to Sir John Simon, it will no doubt really be himself who will have to justify the measures put forward in his Budget. It is very evident that he will have a good deal of resistance to overcome with respect to his suggested tax on excess profits directly or indirectly attributable to rearmament expenditure. Indications have already been given that he was prepared to consider; modifications of it, especially as to its incidence. But, having once mooted it, there can scarcely be any thought of its abandonment without offending the many who regard it as being, in principle at any rate, only just. That, however, is a difficulty that would have had to be met in any event and is merely of the greater importance because of Mr. Chamberlain 's elevation to leadership. Apart from this special feature, it was, of course, inevitable that there should be some adverse criticism of the redistribution of portfolios which the new Prime Minister has deemed neces* sary, or that this should' assume both party and personal aspects. That Cabinet should again be drawn mainly from the Conservative element in tbe House was in the natural order of things, and in this respect the reshuffling, for it amounts to little more, leaves things very much as they were. With u Cabinet composed of fifteen Conservatives, foui; National Liberals and two National Labour, the Conservatives in tbe House of Commons are by no means numerically overrepresented, for the last general election gave them an overwhelming majority of seats and, of course, a still greater majority in the ranks of the supporters of the National Government. Indeea, so strong is this majority that one of Mr. Baldwin 's main difficulties lay in resisting a demand for a new election on old party lines from which a purely Conservative Government was confidently expected to arise. Especially well represented in the new Cabinet must the Liberals regard themselves when it is noted that of tjie four portfolios allotted to them three. are of such importance as those of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Secretary of State for War and Minister of Transport. As to the propriety and prudence of the changes in office for those already memhers of the Ministry there is also almost necessarily a good deal of criticism. It may, however, probably be taken that Mr. Chamberlain, from his long and intimate association with them, is just as capable as any of judging relative capacities for the respective jobs assigned. He is himself a Conservative of quite Liberal tendencies and it may well be hoped that, once he has disposed of what must still he considered his Budget, any restiveness that has arisen from other causes will wear off and the National Government he preserved in its intgerity.