The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1908. ASQUITH—PREMIER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 382, 7 May 1908, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1908. ASQUITH—PREMIER.

An interesting character sketch of Mr Asquith, the British Premier, is contributed to the Daily Mail: — A shortish man (says the contributor) with wavy, silver - grey hair, loose-fitting clothes, and a pallid lawyer-like face, with a very straight mouth and very steady eyes, is standing day by day at the table of the House of Commons making the light of his life. Mr Asquith’s incessant mental turmoil and his heavy burden of Empire is never shown in his face when at ten minutes past three each alternocn he strolls into the House of Commons to answer any questions which may be put down to him as Chancellor of the Exchequer or as acting-Prime Minister. No feverish haste marks his footsteps, he bears no sign of the nerve-trying day of work he has already completed in his Department, in his private room, and in the Cabinet chamber. He picks his way over the outstretched feet of Ministers on the front bench, with the slow precision of an id'e ;- . His hands are in his trousers’ pockets, his face is placid, slightly bored, and his whole attitude that of the leisurely sauuterer only faintly interested in the scene which his entry into the Chamber has opened up for him. He drops with an indifferent air into the middle of the long line of Ministers on the front bench, and casually picks up the order paper of the day with the manner of a man who thinks he may as well see what is going on, though it really does not interest him very much. It is said that Mr Asquith, lacking personal magnetism, is not a leader of men, and yet in these later days the advent of the coldfaced Chancellor of the Exchequer acts in the way of a tonic on the crowded lines of his supporters, even on a. good many of those who are not entirely satisfied as to his orthodoxy. They know that Mr Asquith, with all his seeming placidity, can within 30 seconds turn himself into a dragon of furi-1

ous action. They know that for all his indifference he will spring to battle with smashing Mows the instant there is an opening. His icy preparedness for emergencies stirs the latent admiration of even the Tittle Englanders. Mr Asquith is not an imposing figure, except in action. His clothes never seem to fit him thoroughly, his trousers always appear rather baggy, his inevitable morning coat seems much too small, and his waistcoat gives one the impression of being worn because it is comfortable. To a stranger his clothes are in keeping with the man as he leans back indifferently on the front bench. They indicate him as a member not anxious to cut a distinguished figure, as one who is quite content to be among the rank and file of a large parliamentary party. But that impression is dissipated when Mr Asquith rises to his feet. Then the personality of the man shines forth, and the most casual eye can see what makes him a power in the House of Commons. From his first dozen words it is apparent that, though one may dislike him, it will be impossible to ignore him. His manner varies with the occasion. It is generally ruthless. He will brush political friends aside with the same rough verbal gesture that he uses to foes. He does not go out of his way to be conciliatory. One has to see the Chancellor of the Exchequer at different periods of a parliamentary silling to get a fair picture of him. The .Mr Asquith seated with bored (ace and lazy attitude on the Treasury bench is not (he Mr Asquith who makes a fighting speech. Listlessness drops from him like a mantle as he rises to his feet and takes his place in front of the famous despatch-box to expound to the House a new and highly contentious piece of legislation. His pale face is slightly flushed, his eyes are half-veiled ; unconsciously his shoulders go back a little, and his head adopts an aggressive poise. He is a picture ot cold ardor. In a deep sonorous voice he opens with some wellbalanced generalites. In three minutes he has reached the heart of his subject, holding the House silent with his lucid and direct explanations. Here is where he excels. It is hard to believe when listening to Mr Asquith that legislative proposals can be complex or intricate. He has the power of making a child understand an Act of Parliament. Directly his speech is over he sinks back on the Treasury bench with his old impassive air. It is hard to think that this is the man who a minute before was rousing his followers with peals of thunderous words, thrashing his opponents with tremendous adjectives. He sinks low on the bench, inclines his head back as far as he can get it, and thrusts his hands deep into his trousers pockets.