BRITISH CABINET

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1932, Page 5

BRITISH CABINET

“AGREEMENT TO DIFFER.”

SIR H. SAMUEL’S EXPLANATION United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright 1 j LONDON, January 24. * Sir H. Samuel's speech in which he that nobody in the Cabinet desired Mr MacDonald's resignation, i.s 'irterpreted as meaning that Mr MacDonald threatened to r sign it' four dissenters from the tariff left the 'Cabinet. Cabinet’s announcement of “tin agreement to differ’’ on the tariff policy, while maintaining unity in fact of all other issues, i.s keenly discussed .in political circles. All 20 members of the .Cabinet were pre-sent when the decision was reached, ft iunderstood that the disseming bursters were Lord Snowden and the three Liberal Ministers, Sir Hubert » Samuel, Sir Donald Mac Lean, and Sir /Archibald Sinclair, Secretary for Scotland. While these Ministers, in differing on this issue from the majority of their colleagues, were prepared to take the usual course in such circumstances of resigning, they refrained from doing so, when it was urged upon them the importance of maintaining a united front, upon the other problems, confronting the country, was as vital now as at .the time when the National (Government was formed, and the resignations would infallibly bp interpreted as implying disagreement on inter, national and Imperial issues, upon which agreement was complete. The present expedient, therefore, is adopted since ft, is generally agreed that rigorous , adherence to precedent has lost importance in .face of the unprecedented problems. Lord Ha'ilsham, who it is understood played a notable part at the . Cabinet meeting, expressed the belief thalt- (“so far from weakening the position, nothing will so strengthen the weight of our influence abroad than the knowledge that even these fiscal differences, which are matters of common notoriety, are not of avail to shake the solidity of the British Cabinet in time of the country's danger.” RESIGNATIONS INEVITABLE. LONDON, January 24. The Conservative and Liberal rank and file doubt whether the departure from the collective Cabine-t responsibility is workable. The belief is expressed in those quarters that the four Ministers will eventually resign. SNOWDEN’S CLIMB DOWN.

OLD COLLEAGUE’S CRITICISM. LONDON, January 24. . Mr James Hudson, former Parliamentary private secretary to Lord iSnovvden, speaking at Dartford, said : “If I know anything of my old chief, there is no man more capable of utter contempt for the latest Government s ubterfuge, He assert'-d at Manchester in 1931 that rjo Government of which he was a member would introduce what this Government has decided "to introduce, He has vjolated his deepest conviction. Ho w u,s prepared to smash the Labour Government, if it yielded to Tory-Liberal, pressure against his land taxation scheme, but he has supinely connived at his Government's destruction of the scheme. The Premier should make way’ for the Conservative Party Leader, or seek a dissolution.”

RAMSHACKLE CABINET

LONDON, January 24

Mr Herbert Morrison, speaking at •Paddington, said the recent Cabinet occurrences proved the foundations of the Government to be ramshackle. The whole political world was shocked by the Cabinet’s amazing decision, to allow to go as they pleased.

POLITICAL COMMENT

/ LONDON, January 24. James Hudson, a former parliamentary private secretary to Sir I'. Snowden speaking at Dartford said—“Jf I have known anything of my old chief, there is no man more capable of utter contempt for the latest Government subterfuge. He asserted in Manchester in 1931 that no Govern.ment of which he was a member would introduce what this Government has decided to introduce. JJe Jins violated lii.s deepest convictions. Tie was prepared to smash the Labour Government if it yielded to ’lror-y-Liberal pressure against bis land taxa-

J tion scheme, but he has supinely \ connived at hi,s Government’s •destruction of the scheme. Hie actually smashed the Labour Government *»>- i cause some of its members dared to ) con template a revenue tariff as better ( tnan an attack on the unemployeds. He remains in this Government which carries out both.” Herbert Mon ison speaking at Paddington said the recent Cabinet occurrences proved the foundation of the Government were ramshackle. The whole political world was shocked by Cabinet’s amazing decision to allow Ministers to go as they please rn connection with the most important V net in the policy. The Premiers should make way for a Conservative Party leader or seek a dissolution.