MR. N. CHAMBERLAIN AS MINISTER OF HEALTH.

Major J. W. Hills arrived in London from Liverpool yesterday afternoon and handed his resignation to the Prime Minister, who, as in the case of the other defeated members of the Government, was left with no alternative but to accept it. Within the space of four days Mr. Bonar Law has lost the services of three Ministers, and with the session now in full swing the offices thus rendered vacant are, for the convenience of the House of Commons as well as of the Government, to be filled without delay.

A beginning has been made by the transfer of Mr. Neville Chamberlain from the Post Office to the Ministry of Health, a step forecasted with considerable confidence in The Daily Telegraph as soon as it became known that Sir Arthur Boscawen had been the victim of misfortune at Mitcham.

There is reason to believe that before the Prime Minister’s choice fell upon Mr. Chamberlain approaches were made to Sir Robert Horne with a view to discovering whether he would be prepared to take office. The ex-chancellor of the Exchequer, whose entry into the Government would be welcomed by a large section of the Conservative party, is, however, now closely identified with a number of important business concerns, and he is not likely for some little time at any rate to return to the Treasury bench, though he is in regular attendance at the House.

A second Ministerial change was announced last night in the promotion of Sir W. Joynson-hicks from the office of Parliamentary Secretary of the Overseas Trade Department to succeed Mr. Neville Chamberlain as Postmaster General. Both appointments, let it be said, met with general approval in the lobby, where Mr. Chamberlain’s special fitness, on account of his great experience of municipal work, for the post of Health Minister was acknowledged on all sides. As regards the Post Office, the belief is that Sir W. Joynson Hicks, who has already proved himself an able and energetic Minister, will do well in his new office.