IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2737, 16 February 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

MR ASQUITH'S DIFFICULTIES

United Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Feb. 14.

The “Morning Post” states that it was reported among Radicals yesterday that Mr Asquith had failed to obtain any promises desired from the .King. The Liberals entertain a very .real sense of the peril the Government has to face from its own allies.

The “Standard” states that it may he taken from granted that Air Asquith did not obtain, even if. he sought, guarantees from the King, without which he, in December, said he would not hold office, and he might be easily .{persuaded of the general impossibility of conducting a successful Administration in such cicumstances.

Mr H. Belloc, Liberal M.P., publishes a vigorous letter in the “Times” denouncing the policy of passing the .Budget before the veto as a betrayal of Liberal sunnorters.

The “Morning Leader” fiercely demands that the veto be taken first.

The “Westminster Gazette” protests against Ministers being bullied. It declares that the Government cannot continue office and disclaim responsibility for the financial position.

MR WASON RE-ELECTED. The election for Orkney and Shetland resulted: J. Cathcart Wason, Liberal, 4117; Sempley, Conservative, ‘944. ’

[At the 'last election Air Wason was returned by 3837 votes against 1021 polled for Air J. C. Dunlop (Conser vative.)]

PREPARATIONS FOR OPENING PARLIAMENT.

(Received February lb, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. lb.

The speech for the opening of Parliament will be submitted for King Edward’s approval at a Privy Council ■meeting on February 19th. Parliament formally meets to-day to elect a Speaker. Alembers will be sworn in during, the week.

CABINET CHANGES. The following Cabinet changes are officially announced: Homo Secretary : Air. Winston ’Churchill (vice Air. Herbert Gladstone).

President of the Board of Trade: Air -S. Buxton (vice Air. Winston Churchill).

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: Mr. J. A. Pease, with a seat in the Cabinet (vice Air. Herbert Samuel).

Postmaster-General: Air. Herbert Samuel (vice Air. S. Buxton). Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (which is the same as Patronage Secretary): The Alaster of'Elibank (vice Dr. T. J. Alacnamara).

A PEERAGE FOR GLADSTONE'S SON. It is. understood that Mr. Herbert Gladstone will shortly be raised to the Peerage. The Cabinet sat for three hours yesterday, and adjourned the deliberations 'till to-day.

THE FATE OF THE BUDGET IN NATIONALIST HANDS.

Mr. Redmond has arrived in London, and is negotiating with the Liberal leaders.

The *‘Times” says that the fate of the Budget is unquestionably in Mr. Redmond’s hands, but whether he will dare to put it to the touch is another matter.

Mr. Wason’s return completes the 'elections. Complete figures in the. new House of Commons are:— Lost .Gained.Retained.Ttl. Liberal ... 118 22 254 276 Unionist ... 17 127 146 273 Labor ... 15 2 37 39 Nationalist* 1

Total seats in House ... 670

—Majorities.— Liberal over Unionist _ 3 Liberal-Labor over Unionist ... 42 Liberal-Labor-Nationalist over Unionist ••• ••• 124

Concerning Mr. J. Cathcart Wason, a Unionist writer thus hits off his “points”: “Mr. J. Cathcart Wason is a brother of the member for Clackmannan and Kinross. H© was elected •for Orkney and Shetland as a LiberaL Unionist in 1900, but speedily ‘changed over’ and secured re-election as a- more or less independent Radical. He is a six-footer, with a taste for knitting in the recreation rooms of the House of Commons, but he is also capable, of enjoying: himself in a more arduous fashion with rod and gun. H© was educated at Rugby, and called to the Bar, but he went to New Zealand at; an ear:ly age, prospered in sheep-farming, and adorned for a. time the colonial House of Representatives. He was born m 1848.”