BRITISH POLITICS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9115, 7 April 1908, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

RESIGNATION OF PRIME MINISTER. . MB ASQUITH SUCCEEDS HIM. PRESS COMMENTS. Press Association.— -Copyright. London, April 6. A Court Circular announces that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, at the urgent recommendation of his medical advisers, has resigned his position as British Premier. His Majesty King Edward received the communication with much regret. King Edward has summoned Mr Asquith; The resignation of Sir Henry Camp-bell-Bannerman has' caused more regret than surprise in the London clubs.

Sympathetic and appreoiatory comments appear in all the newspapers. The Mail emphasises Mr Asquith’s moderation and expects a further purging of the Liberal programme. The Chronicle says that Mr Asquith has immense ability, with unswerving devotion to principle, but it remains to be seen if he has the art of managing men. It adds that owing largely to Sir Henry CampbellBannerman’s illness the Government for some little time lately, seems to have lost grip over the country. Mr Asquith will be able by the infusion of new blood in the Cabinet, to invigorate the Party, and win back the Nation ’sjconfldence. The Morning Post is friendly.

The Times forecasts Mr Lloyd George as Chancellor of the Exchequer, and heartily congratulates Mr Asquith on his promotion. It gays he has discharged his duties as Premier this session with remarkable energy and conspicious ability under unusual difficulties.

The Daily News, after eulogising Mr Asquith’s loyalty to the party, and bis great efforts in the cause of free trade, says he sometimes failed to awaken that ardent enthusiasm without which reform is impossible. He fights in the cold, dry, light of intellectual reason, and his hrusqueness of utterance has sometimes offended. He has been summoned to the Premiership at a moment of transcendant interest when politics are in the melting pot, and future parties and causes are more uncertain than ever. It adds that the enduring reputation of his statesmanship will depend upon his accurate judgment of things necessary to the country’s welfare, and his courageous and successful determination to realise such political changes as are realisable.

‘ SUFFRAGISTS READY FOR THE"FRAY. I Received April 7, 8.2 a.m, London, April 6. Mrs Pankhurst, suffragist leader, at a mass meeting in Lancaster declared that Mr Asquith’s Premiership meant for the suffragists a fight to the bitter end. They must nerve themselves for the fray. The Standard contrasts the sympathies and methods of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman and Mr Asquith and concludes that it will he necessary for Mr Asquith to rely on the centre and not the left wing of his party.

The Daily Telegraph says that the country expects Mr Asquith to show greater firmness and to yield less to extreme radicals than Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, and to bring the Irish policy more into accord with the elementary principles of good government.