AGAIN IN OFFICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3954, 11 June 1929, Page 1

AGAIN IN OFFICE.

MR. Mat®ONADD’S CAREERKNOWLEDGE OE THE EMPIRE. Mr. Jaimes Rains ay MacDonald, the Labour leader, who lias become Prime Minister of Britain for the second time, has, like many of the adherents of his party, never been a manual worker, (but in early life had very few advantages. He was born at Lossiemouth, Scotland, his father 'being a farm labourer, and at an early age he became a pupil teacher, and then went to London and had various ill-paid jobs. He later became private secretary to the late Mr. Thomas Lough, a Liberal M.P. He had already done much debating and talking in small clubs in Lossiemouth, and he joined a debating society in London and studied hard private]^. Mr. MacDonald joined the Fabian Society and in 1893 helped to form the Independent Labour Party and kept himself by journalism. In 1900 he was appointed secretary of the Independent Labour Party and with Mr. Keir Hardie and others did muleih to assist its progress. In 1906 he wa's one of 30 Labour members returned to Parliament. At the outbreak of the war he opposed the entry of Britain into the conflict and finding the bulk of the party against him resigned the leadership, and was succeeded by Mr. Arthur Henderson. He lost his seat at Leicester in 1918 by a large majority, and later a byelection at Woolwich, a Labour stronghold. But in 1922 he was elected for Aberavon, and was elected 'chairman of the Labour Party, and in Parliament stood head and shoulders .over bis colleagues. W|ben the IConservatve Govern(ment fell in 1923 he was the only possible Laibour. Prime Minister. He took the important post of Secretary of State for 'Foreign Affairs, but was defeated in the debate on •the famous “Zinovieff Letter.” His party was defeated at the election and lie resigned. He was, however, re-elected chairman of his party in 1926, in spite of a revolt against him, Mr. MacDonald has travelled and seen more of the world and the Empire than any other British Prime Minister. His health was not good for some time, and in 1927, while in Philadelphia, he was seriously ill. He is a reserved, cultulred man, a great lover of art. He is a trustee of the National Gallery. He has written several books on Labour topics and Socialism, and-his delightful “Wanderings and Excursions” was praised by critics of all shades of opinion.

The neAY Prime Minister married a daughter of the late Dr. J. H. Gladstone, F.R.S., and her death in 1911 was a great blow to him. He wrote a most touching memoir of her.