IMPERIAL POLITICS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 123, 15 November 1911, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS

COURT OFFICIAL RESIGNS. By Cable—Press Association —Copyright London, November 13. Lord Tweedmouth has resigned his position as Lord-in-Waiting. as he does not sympathise with the Liberal policy. A HANDSOME GIFT. London, November 13. Mr. .Tamos Buchanan, distiller, has given the Tariff Reform League £IO,OOO, in consequence of Mr. Bonar Law's election. IMPROVING THE UNSKILLED. London, November 13. Mr. Buxton will propose that the Insurance Bill be amended to allow the unemployment fund to pay the cost of workmen attending technical classes if their unskilfulness jeopardises their chances of employment.

FRANCHISE EXTENSION. London, November 13. Mr. Asquith announced that a redistribution scheme as a logical corollary would follow the proposed extension of the franchise. MR. BALFOUR'S SUCCESSOR. London, November 12. Mr. Long proposed, and Mr. Austii Chamberlain seconded the nomination of Mr. Bonar Law to the leadership of the Opposition, and he was elected by acclamation. A BY-ELECTION. London, November 13. Speaking on behalf of Mr. Robinson, Labor candidate for the Oldham byelection. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald stated that many Liberals were supporting Mr. Banbury's Bill against the Trades Dispute Act, but the Lahorites would fight to prevent its repeal. Received 14, 8.45 p.m. London, November 14. The by-election for the Oldham seat, rendered necessary owing to Mr. Emmott being raised to the Peerage, resulted:— Mr. E. R. Dennis (Unionist) 12.253 Mr. Stanley (Liberal) 10,623 Mr. Robinson (Labor)' 7,44s BILL FOR PASSIVE RESISTERS. Received 15, 12.45 a.m. London, November 14. In the House of Commons, replying to a question, Mr. Asquith declared the Govemment intended during the present Parliament to remedy passive resisters' grievances. Mr. Lloyd-George's amendment, giving Scotland a separate insurance fund, controlled by separate commissioners, has been adopted.

XEW LEADER OYATIOXED. Received 14. 9.30 p.m. London, Xovember 14. After the Unionists had accorded an ovation to Mr. Bonar Law the Liberals and Laboritcs cordially joined in the cheering. The Liberal newspapers declare that Mr. Bonar Law's selection is wise, inasmuch as Mr. Austen Chamberlain's- selection would have made a nonconformist leader of churchmen opposing Welsh Disestablishment, while Mr. W. 11. Long's selection would have meant the defeat of Chambcrlainiim.

The very absence of those brilliant qualities which have raised contemporary British statesmen to international renown has made the solid and serious Mr. Bonar Law illustrious, according to a recent character sketch in the London Daily Mail. An entire absence of ornament in speech, but the conspicuous presence of common sense, "a terse and forceful exposition of practical matters," arc noted as Mr. Law's distinguishing characteristics in debate. He is rather the man who. having convinced himself that a certain course is necessary, will work without any personal ostentation, but with a certain grim ruthlcssness until his object is attained. ''That is how Mr. Bonar Law reveals himself. He stands at the table of the House of Commons, a tall, spare figure, with a suggestion of Scottish gauntness about him. He is generally in a long fiock coat or a cutaway. He stands very erect, one hand by his side, the finger of the other hand resting lightly on the box in front of him. He has no gestures, and he consults no notes." The speeches for which Mr. Bonar Law is so celebrated in and out of the Commons are described as ••amazingly faetfii!." His efforts are the more impressive because he never makes use of a note. Once in a long while he will thrust his right band into the left breast pocket of his coat, and draw out a small sheet of paper containing some reference or some quotation. But he restores jt to his bosom or lays it on the table in front of him with'a quickness suggesting his eagerness not to spoil an argument by depriving it of the extempore quality. Tie is not a great orator in the sense that lie can move bv any appeal to the emotions, but for that very reason he is the more trenchant debater. Ilis grasp of practical facts, his lucid exposition of them, and a certain firmness are his outstanding characteristics. Ac one admirer puts it: "He first lifted himolf in the world as an ironmaster, and even now. as he stands beside the table of the House of Commons, (here is iron in (lie hard directness of the man. and in that air of quiet resolution which marks him from head to foot."

Mr. Law was Lorn at New Brunswick, in Canada, ■"),■) years ago. and lie is the son of a Presbyterian minister. Tie wen! to the High School at Clasgow, and while a mere youth was put to business. He forged "ahead at. a rate that made him as powerful in the steel trade of firesit Britain as any president of the Carnegie Board in the United States. Not until he was 42, and famed as the chairman of the Clasgow Tron Trade Association, did Bonar Law find a. seat in the House of Commons. Once there, he made up for Inst time, and was Parliamentary secretary to the Board of Trade during the last three years—Mr. Balfour's stormy neriod of power. Mr. Law proved himself a peculiar masler of the dry. cold and irresistible facts which, stated without passion, demolish (,],(. most brilliant, propositions. His assertions relate invariablv to trade returns, to tariffs, to reciprocity, to preference.