BRITISH POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1929, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

ADVICE BY “THE TIMES.” (United Prose Association—By Electric 'Jeleg. *.ph—Copyright). LONDON, June 11. The “Times” says: It must be hoped that the absence of any mention of Empire policy in the introductory proI nouncements of the Government docs not mean that Empire development will be given lower place than it deserves in any general scheme. This Government will have a special chance and a special duty, to consolidate Imperial relations, the special chance being provided by the imminence of the Imperial Conference. The main task of that Conference will be to deal with Imperial economic relations, of which the organisation is only in its infancy. What is the Government’s attitude towards the Empire Marketing Board and the Imperial Conference? The least that the Government can do is to confirm the general, principle, that if any duties are retained, the Imperial preferences thereunder will also be retained. A plain declaration by Labour that it intends to recognise and strengthen the ecoomic links of the Empire would be the best recommendation for the nation to give the Government the latitude that it demands. THE MINISTER OF MINES. • - LONDON, June 10. Mr Ramsay MacDonald is appointing Mr Ben Turner as Secretary:'for Mines. i LIBERALS POSITION. ATTITUDE OUTLINED. (Received this 'finv at 10.30. a.m.t LONDON, June 11. Indicating the Liberal' attitude to the MacDonald Government, Sir H. Saxriuel, in a letter to Robert Bernnriys, Liberal candidate for Rugby, says: “ Tire Liberal Party at. the general election urged the country to end the Conservatives, feeling they were a stumbling block to administration, also not to consent to rash Socialistic experiments. The nation had done both these things. Only through the existence of the Liberal Party and ifs effective Parliamentary representation, has it been possible to achieve both simultaneously, five million Liberal votes, enabling the nation to reject both Socialism and Toryism. The present Government has the full opportunity for its measures, which the House.of Commons is likely to receive favourably,' but if. ' the Government adopts an immoderate policy, the Liberal'Party must be there and ready.”

PRIME MINISTER’S MESSAGE. TO LABOUR ORGANISATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received this day at 11 a.m.) RUGBY, June 11. In a cordial message yesterday expressing at the earliest opportunity, the goodwill of the British Government to the 1 President and leaders of the International Labour Organisation, the Prime Minister stated: “We arc deeply sensible of the work performed by the International Labour Organisation with a view to the improvement of conditions of Labour throughout the world in furtherance of the aims of the peace treaty.” In reply, the President of the Conference expressed the hearty thanks of the conference and added: “The conference warmly welcomes your assurance of the whole-hearted co-operation elf your Government and keenly appreciates the value of your collaboration in furthering the aims of the International Labour Organisation. Owing to delay in additional appointments to the new Government, the Prime Minister has 'postponed his departure for his home at Lossiemouth, Scotland, until to-morrow.,

GENERAL DAWES ARRIVING. , AN INVITATION TO MR MACDONALD. LONDON, June 12. General Dawes, the newly-appointed United States Ambassador to Britain, is due to arrive at London to-morrow, and it is reported that he will extent an invitation from President Hoover to Mr Ramsay .MacDonald to visit the United States in"the autumn. .If w known that Mr Baldwin, had lie continued in office as Prime Minister, intended to pay a personal visit to the President of the United States tins year and it is considered likely Mr MacDonald may decide to make the journey. If the project is carried out the Prime Minister will probably go to the United States after the House ol Commons adjourns in July, anc id oie it re-assembles towards the end ot October. JUNIOR MINISTERS. THE LIST OF APPOINTMENTS; LONDON, June 12. The list of junior Ministers appointments is issued this evening.' Doctor Dalton, becomes Parliamentary Under-Secretary of the l'oreign Office. Apart from being a keen student of (foreign policies lie has considerable reputation as an economist. Arthur Ponsonby is appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary [ or the Dominions. He was Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the Labour Government of 1024. William Lunn becomes Parliamentary Under-Secretarv Ipr the Colonies. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the

Department of Overseas Trade in the Labour Administration of 1924. Beil Turner becomes Parliamentary Under-Secretary of the Mines Department of the Board of Trade. The Ministry of Mines was abolished as <i separate entity by the late Conservative Government, matters appertaining to mines reverting to the Board of Trade. Considerable importance, however, is attached by the new Labour Government to mines and in entrusting the secretaryship for mines to Mr Turner, Mr MacDonald lias chosen one of the most able trade union leaders. Mr Turner is General President of the National Union of Textile? Workers and 'as Chairman of the General Council of Trade Union Congress has played a leading part in conferences with employers, headed by Lord Melcliett, for pearn jn industry. Mi* Ammon received the post of Parliamentary and Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, which lie held in the last Labour Administration, and Mr George Hall becomes Civil Lord of the Admiralty.

Doctor Addison'.- it is stated, has consented to fill the post of Undersecretary to the Ministry of Agriculture at the special and urgent request of the Prime Minister, in order that he may participate in promoting various agricultural schemes of the Government in the preparation of which he has played a very active part. Addison is by profession a physician and surgeon. He was a Liberal member of Parliament from 1910 to 1922, Was Minister of Munitions and afterwards Minister in Charge of Reconstruction during the war. He was the first Minister of Health in Lloyd George’s coalition Government 1919-1921. He left the Liberal Party and was elected for Swindon as a Labourite at the general election.

Miss Susan Lawrence becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health. She has been an active member of London County Council and a Poplar Borough Councillor. Doctor Drummond Shiels, becomes Parliamentary Under-Secretary for India. He is specially interested in dominion and colonial conditions. He was a member of the special commission on Ceylon’s constitution.

Lord Russell receives office for the first time as Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry rtf Transport. Mr Pethick Laurence becomes Financial Secretary to the Treasury. He is an authority on financial matters and was one of the most ardent supporters of the suffragettes in their militant campaign for the vote just before the war.

Lord de la Warr becomes Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the War Office and Mr T. Shimvell, Financial Secretary.. Mr Shimvell was Minister of Mines in the last Labour Government.

Other new under-secretaries are : F Montague (Air Ministry), W. Tt. Smith (Board of Trade), Morgan Jones (Board of Education), Alfred Short (Home Office), J. Larson (Ministry of Labour). PROPOSED CONFERENCE. (Received this day at 10 a.m.) MADRID, June 11. M. Briand and Dr Stressemann will shortly confer with Mr MacDonald on the subject of convening an International Conference in the mid-summer, either at London, Paris or Baden, to be composed of Britain, France, Geimany, Italy, Belgium and Japa* with the object of liquidating war problems outstanding after the Paris Repax ations Conference, such as the Rhineland Evacuation.