Page:Punch Vol 148.djvu/547

'House of Commons, Thursday, 3rd of June.—House reassembled after Whitsun Recess. Great things had happened in interval. Liberal Ministry under leadership of Asquith broken up. In its place a Coalition Government, in which Lansdowne, Prince Arthur, Bonar Law and other Unionist chieftains figure.

Result naturally expected to be obliteration of Opposition. Realised as far as organisation goes. But if Premier supposed that because the two Front Benches have become a united force, sharing the good things of Office, Hon. Members below Gangway on either side will relinquish right of free-born Englishmen to criticise, even to oppose, propositions coming from Treasury Bench he was quickly undeceived.

Disillusion came with very first legislative proposal of new Government. Home Secretary (Sir John Simon, vice McKenna, gone to Treasury) moved for leave to introduce Bill suspending statute which requires Members newly appointed to places of profit under the Crown to submit themselves for re-election. Pleading urgency of case in view of desirability of new Ministers getting immediately to their task of grappling with necessities created by War, he asked House to pass the Bill through all its stages at current sitting.

Now or never for the new Opposition. Inchoate in form, lacking a leader, it would by a moment's hesitation have lost its opportunity. The Coalition Government would have enjoyed privilege secured for its predecessor by habit of Bonar Law and his friends of refraining from obstructing measures recommended in interests of public service.

As occasionally happens at great crises, with the striking of the Hour the Man appeared.

It was Mr. Ginnell!

Rising from bench below Gangway, where on a famous occasion he held the Speaker-nominate at bay for half-an-hour by Westminster clock, he denounced the Bill as an affront to the electorate. The proposal to pass it through all its stages at a single sitting he resented as an infringement of rights of Members. Encouraged by cheers from below Gangway on both sides the new Leader of the Opposition-in-the-making went on to describe the measure as put forward by Ministers to suit their private ends, instigated thereto by the Premier, who, "posing as a Liberal, is a Tory at bottom."

This phrase so pleased him that he emphatically repeated it during pauses occasioned by his notes getting mixed up. Device, ingenious in its conception, proved his ruin. After having thrice called him to order the Speaker peremptorily directed him to resume his seat.

This awkward. But did not minimise importance of two facts established at this first sitting under Coalition Ministry. There is still an Opposition party in the House of Commons and it has found its Leader.

Business done.—Re-election of Ministers Bill passed all stages and sent to Lords. Bill creating Minister of Munitions read first time.

Friday.—Premier has keen sense of humour; but it is rather receptive than creative. This makes more striking the one flash that irradiates his construction of new Ministry. Known in advance that the Winsome Winston had severed connection with Admiralty, a department in which at very outset of War he achieved brilliant stroke that materially influenced its course and earned for him what should be everlasting gratitude of nation.

Question everyone asking up to Tuesday in last week was, What Ministerial post will fall to Winston's lot? What field will be assigned to him wherein he may find fresh triumph for his tireless energy and his administrative genius? India spoken of. Suggestion accepted with modified approval. To be Secretary of State for India would mean attainment of high historic position. Just now, with no vital question stirring its multitudes, a little dull after hourly excitement of the Admiralty. Still, compared with anything else available, India would serve.

When official list of re-constructed Cabinet circulated, the Premier's little joke had full success of surprise. The buoyant, occasionally turbulent, tirelessly active, still young Minister, who by sheer merit has won his way to front rank of British statesmen, is to-day Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, custodian of an annual revenue slightly exceeding £100,000, administered by a staff of less than a score—including, it is true, a Coroner.

There is about the arrangement something that recalls the deportation of Napoleon to Elba. "The Duchy," as it is called for short, is a sort of Chelsea Hospital for statesmen past work who have established a claim upon their Party. Towards close of his active career John Bright dwelt in it. Lord James of Hereford and Sir Henry Fowler, after long term of office, in turn succeeded.

And now Winston, scarcely yet in prime of life as years count, drops into the easy chair.

Business done.—Royal Assent given by commission to Reelection of Ministers Bill.

"On the font near Seddel Bahr artillery and rifle fire was exchanged."

Liverpool Daily Post.

Extract from a letter from the Front:—

"We are in reserve, not as soft a job as it sounds: Reveille at 5.0; parade at 6.0; Swedish drill till 8.0; parade at 9.0; Swedish drill till 12.0; parade at 2.0; Swedish drill till 3.0. Gott strafe Sweden."

"The next attraction at the Princess's Theatre will be a production of the historical costume drama entitled 'Lady Godiva,' which was recently seen at the Adelphi Theatre, Sydney, and caused something of a sensation."

Melbourne Punch.

As originally presented at Coventry we believe it was not a costume drama.