MR CHAMBERLAIN.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 182, 19 May 1903, Page 4

MR CHAMBERLAIN.

The writer of " Secret History of To-day," in Reynolds' Newspaper says: Everybody is talking of the strange reticence of Mr Joseph Chamberlain since his'Tetnrn from South Africa. I am able to state, in the first instance, that Mr J. Chamberlain.... is in a very serious state of health. lie has never really recovered the loss.of blood occasioned by his cab accident a short time ago. His mission to Africa was partly to recupera.te his health. But with the commercial instinct of Birmingham he combined bu^'" o ? o with pleasure. The business, however, was much more than he anticipated. Ai.d i,ow •he has returned to find the whole political situation changed. He desires to be Prime Minister before the end of his career*, mid, that -his son Austen shall succeed him as Colonial Secretary. But he cannot achieve his ambition unless the . present Government is destroyed, and he is called in as the only .possible man to pull the party together. Towards the end of the session, Mr .Chamberlain will probably take a prolonged holiday, not helping his Tory colleagues, letting them drift deeper into the morass in which they find themselves. His opportunity will come when, after the passing of the Irish Land Bill, the Tory Government will go to the country on the question of home rule for Ireland.