BRITISH POLITICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, June 0. It is popularly supposed that Ministers dislike surrendering office, hut the “ Daily Mail s ” political writer says:—Mr Baldwin and his colleagues appeared to he considerably relieved, and notably Sir Austen Chamberlain, who yesterday was busy weeding his rock garden at Twytfcs Chyll, his Sussex home.' Mr Baldwin, who is restarting tennis, has purchased from a friend, a second-hand racquet. Mr Churchill has spent the last two days in detnudding a stream running through his garden at his Westerham (Kent) home. He is now free to enter the city, and will shortly he offered Bank and Insurance Company Directorships. He has also signed contracts for journalistic work. He has undertaken, up-to-date, to do a history off his ancestor, the great Duke of Marlborough. LONDON, June 5.

The “Sun’s” political representative attended at Transport House, where the Labour Party and Labour Executive meetings were held this afternoon. The representative learns that Mr MacDonald’s Cabinet is not finally completed, but that it will probably lie announced on Saturday, when Mr MacDonald is*to submit his full list to His Majesty. Immediately after this, the names will be published. The “Sun’s” representative says: —“Undoubtedly, one of Mr MacDonald’s great difficulties is that, roughly, two hundred members df the Party are seeking office; but he is determined to decide absolutely single-handed who will be his politicals. He conversed with Lord Arnold in his motor-car outside. He is a probable member of the Cabinet. Lord Arnold has indicated that decisions have already been taken regarding the new Government’s immediate course of action. One of the first steps will be in connection with the AngloAmerican relations. He said: “Air Baldwin’s administration’s chilly handling of these issues largely caused their defeat. Discussions will proceed as the new American Ambassador, General Dawes, arrives, regarding limitation of arms.”

Lord Arnold, while admitting that Labour was faced with great problems, expressing his optimism and bis conviction that the change was one for the better.

It is not proposed to prolong the forthcoming sittings of Parliament, which meets on the 25th of June. The first duty of the House will he to elect the Speaker, who will he Captain Fitzroy. Then the members will be sworn in, which will occupy a week. \

- The Government will not invite Parliament immediately to consider -important legislative measures. In I act, Parliament will not be equipped for serious business until the second week in July at the earliest. This makes it impossible for the House of Commons to tackle the legislative programme before the summer holidays.

No legislation will be required to give effect to Labour’s intention to press ifor the speedy convocation of a General Disarmament Conference, nor in connection with the re-establish-ment of diplomatic relations tvith Russia. Similarly much will he done in the domestic sphere, such as housing and education. There is reason to believe that Labour intends to do considerable work in connection with these matters, and also with unemployment relief by the administrative machine.

Labour also intends immediately to deal with widows’, orphans’, and old age pensions, and with unemployment insurance. It is believed, that Mr Snowden will greatly revise Mr Churchill’s second finance bill. He is strongly opposed to Mr Churchill’s betting tax arrangement, and he also denounces the reduction of the liquor licenses. Many doubt whether Mr Churchill’s second finance bill will ever see the light. NEW LABOUR PEERS. LONDON, June 5. The “Daily Mail” states that Mr Justice Sankey has accepted the Lord Chancellorship under the new Government. It adds that it is understood that Mr Ramsay MacDonald is creating a number of Peers to the Labourites in the House df Lords, including Sir Sydney Webb. A VICTORY FUND. xA)NDON, June G. The “Sun’s” political representative states':—lt has been, decided by the Labour Party to open immediately a great Victory and Thanksgiving Eli ml, to which all sections of tho movement will he invited to contribute, in order to carry on the party’s work of strengthening the organisation in readiness for the next general election.

THE NEW GOVERNMENT. POSSIBLE MINISTERS. (Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, June G. With the certainty that the King will he ready on Saturday to hand the new Ministers their seals of office, there is more definite talk df their location. There is the strongest grounds for saying that Mr J. H. Thomas will be given the post of Lord Privy Seal, so that he will be able to concentrate on the “Ministry of Unemployment” for which, he has several schemes of his own devising, notably railway betterment. There is no definite hint who will go to tho Dominions Office. • Mr Arthur Henderson seems marked out 'lor the Foreign Secretaryship.