BRITISH POLITICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 371, 11 April 1908, Page 3

BRITISH POLITICS.

The New Premier. London, April 9. It is officially announced that Mr Asquith’s resignation as Chancellor of the Exchequer has been accepted by the King. Mr Asquith kissed His Majesty’s hand on receiving the appointment of Premier and First Lord of the Treasury. Lord Lansdowne, who leads for the Opposition in the House of Lords, speaking at the Conservative Club, said that the Government’s Bills were tainted with the spirit of vindictiveness, and were opposed to the general well-being. The Government’s financial policy was likely to bring them to serious grief. He hoped that they would learn, from recent by-elections, that the country was disillusionised. The new Government, to be formed by Mr Asquith, had a great chance. The Unionists were willing to deal with education and temperance on moderate and reasonable lines, and they were ready to examine carefully, and not in an obstructive way, any proposals that were conceived in a just and moderate spirit. The Government intended to conceal Sir H. Campbell-Banner-manls resignation in order to enable them to make the necessary changes during the Easter recess. Premature revelations necessitated a public announcement and the loss of ten days’ parliamentary work. Mr Asquith bad an hour’s interview with King Edward at Biarritz. ■