Hide Article Text (OCR)
PREMIER. AND. CHANCELLOR HECKLED, LIVELY SITTING. (From Our. Parliamentary Representative,) WESTMINSTER, Wednesday , Midnight. The House of Commons his~cast, aside its wrappings ‘of dulness.’. Some electricity was in the air to-ight. Members were braced: up, vibrant, vehement,and they lay in wait for each other, and bonnected one another.. This has been ‘like we: of ‘the old, noisy. sittings before solemn :respectability blanketed . the House: Mr. William O' Brien, ‘his hair awry, his beard flowing, his voice shaking, was after the Government. © “A few nights ago his arch enemy, Mr. John Redmond—both these leaders of rival factions claim to represent the true opinion of Ireland—made rather a boast that he would be throwing a few amendments to the Insurance Bill, across the floor, and the Govern ment would be sure to accept them,and ‘then Ireland ’ would welcome the Billy. ‘The oO’ Brienites curse ‘with ‘hell and book the ‘appli cation in any way of the Bill to Ireland. But, if there were amendments, where were they? Mr. ‘McKinnon - Wood, Secretary to the Trea sury, Was astonished at such: haste. Plenty of time! Mr....O’Brien sang’ ‘his: indignation. Captain ‘Craig, provided an Ulster obbligator at the BTOss ” unfairness, of keeping: Ireland: in the dark.” Mr. McKinnon “Wood: “blinked wisely, ‘but he would’ say nothing about those mysterious Redmond amendments which the Government are expected to swallow. RADICALS AND THE PEERAGE. In: casual ‘manner , the Prime Minister’ saun tered in, gave an off-hand nod to his colleague Mr. Llovel: George, and saw that this bundle, of replies to inquisitive M.P.s was, in order. Oh, yes,next, year, the Government hoped to intro duce a measure, dealing ‘with the permanent segregation of the double-minded—and appre ciative ‘* Hear, hears,”’ TORS from several “cor ners. Mrs Asquith «was, ‘* more than usual calm.” , But, suddenly the storm ‘came. So many new Peers are being made nowadays that Mr. Barnston wanted to know, when the ‘Prime Minister would introduce his legislation to cur tail numbers; and not, as is now the case, augment them.” Mr. Asquith frowned, and was ‘evasive. But Mr. Barnston inquired, with an inconvenient ‘clipping “in ‘his hand, did Mr. Asquith’ still, hold: that the question, “ brooks no delay”? ? ‘Unionists laughed. “Mr. Asquith raised his eyebrows. **No ‘avoidable’ delay,” he corrected and rode‘ off. Mr. Page Croft, however, was ready to hold him up. “Had the Government abandoned its intention ‘to reform the House of Lords? Another evasion. ' So Mr. Page Croft. produced a ‘clipping, a little newspaper paragraph of recent. speech by the redoubtable Mr. Alexander Ure, Lord Advocate, declaring that ‘* the’ reform of the Lords is all folly and moonshine.’’ Members chuckled. Mr. Page. Croft inquired whether that was the view of the Government. Suddenly out of the crowd rose the fussy Sir Wiliam Byles. * Seeing,”? said he with unction, ‘* that the House ‘of Lords has ‘been rendered donnocuous, will the Prime Minister consider the policy, of ‘leaving well alone?’ “The only answer deigned by Mr. Asquith was the remark ‘that Mr. ‘Ure denied the statement, ditributed to‘ him. Then Mr. O’Brier again flashed into notice. He wanted a preliminary memorandum of next session’s Home Rule “Bill.” Well, Jie was not going to have it. Thereupon, Mr. O’Brien threatened. fire and slaughter, when the motion was made ‘that members go home. *‘Captain Pirie, from far Aberdeenshire, bounced ‘up. He was disgruntled. ‘‘ Why did not the Irish mem bers. framé their’own Home: Rule Bill.. like the Scotch -members did?”He stood quiver ing... The House laughed. Mr. Asquith: re mained seated. ‘Does not. the. right. hon. gentleman think it worth while to answer ‘my question : ??? (Motain: Pirie ‘called. I can give no encouragement, is observed the Prime Minister over his shoulder . Mr. Rowland Hunt was after him. Were the Irish members going to sit in the House of Commons, and was the Irish Second Chamber going to be brought into, existence before the British “Second Chamber © Was’ reconstructed ?-- Mr. Asquith evaded. Thereupon Mr. Hunt rose in wrath. He tiraded against Home Rule being decided before the électorate had been given a chance to— The. ‘Speaker firmly checked him. “The hon..member is anticipating the debate of next: ‘session, gaid-he, and Mr. Hunt went down. ETHICS OF BOXING. A question ‘arose as to the action of Mr. Churchill in connection, with ‘the abandoned boxing contest between ‘Jack Johnson and Bom bardier Wells. The new Home Secretary, ‘Mr. McKenna, had “much to say about‘ the legal advice’ proffered to his predecessor. If‘the object—he explained , with a grandiloquence which sent the House into roars of hilarity— was ‘to subdue each other by violent blows until one could endure it no longer, then the fight was illegal.But‘a sparring match, depending upon, skill and ‘shot-upon injuries, ‘was legal. Bo it’. remembered, however, that a ‘ boxing match which was legal might degenerate into a fight, and therefore, lessees of buildings were well advised in taking steps for their “own pros tection by refusing the risk. ‘of prosecu tion. “ Was, ‘ shouted: the big-lunged Mier. Will Thorne;. ‘ ‘If there had been any chance of Wells beating Johnson, do you think there would have been any talk about the matter?” Mr. McKenna would not say what he thought. Ministers were put through ‘their facings rapidly.Mr. Ginnell, of Ireland, 'a nervous and ‘shaky little man, ‘despite his notorious en counter with the Speaker, hammered at the President of the Board of Trade , about some moneyless’ adventurers swindling people in. Ire land: by: registering as an assurance company. Mr. Sydney: Buxton ‘took ‘a strictly. legal. view ; if. wrong was done, steps’ to punish. ‘would be taken. Mr.Ginnell shook his glasses and put this ‘ poser :—‘‘ If the: illegitimate “doing of. life, assurance business’, brings the society within: the” jurisdiction of = the Board of Trade, . is’ not “the | legal doing of it. to the same effect?’ ‘ Answer yes or no,’ commanded some of the young bloods. Mr. Buxton looked’ amazed. He is.a man usually willing: ‘to do his: best. but’ in this case. he would ‘prefer’ to have the ques tion written before he’ replied. “Next Mr. Buxton: had to meet. Mr. ‘Hunt... Mr. Hunt,was indignant that because of our non retaliatory: Free Trade policy Messrs. ‘Pears, of soap faire, had decided to set‘up works in the United States to get behind the American tariff. Mr. Buxton, made ‘the glib, inconsequential reply that manufacturers, in consequence of high tariffs in “other countries, came, to ‘this country. “Name : wee name !'?’was the immediate. shout... Bonar Law threw a lasso at Mr.Buxton: ba he mean to say that when: Pears.’ took’ the manufacture of Bea, which had been..made “in this’. country, America that had no effect on. Paamectes in this country? Mr. Buxton wriggled away ; really, he could not deal with such a matter in ‘an answer, .‘“‘ And, now, will you tell us the price of goop: in. ‘America ? ”, asked Mr. Watt from far‘below the gangway, and the incident. closed: in ‘mirth. Up again popped Captain Pirie: “What right. had. the Government‘ to. allocate a set. time. to Scotch amendments on the insurance. But when the Government ‘had not. stated’ what amend ments. they. proposed to introduce?’. Mr. Ure made just the reply the: captain. anticipated; the Scottish ‘Office was considering. ‘‘ Ah, yes,” rapped Captain Pirie,“ but what benefit ‘is ‘your consideration to the Scottish people?.. Has the Scottish Office a mind ?””’ No: response €x cept: rolling merriment... “Will you,”’ and he spoke very seriously to Mr. ‘Ure; “ will you answer, or, are you uncertain , ‘about the, 60- called mind ‘of the Scottish Office ?’ “Mr. Ure had nothing to say. ‘The captain was ‘angered; he promised to give: Mr. Ure ‘a rough time ‘later on. MR... LLOYD. GEORGE ANGRY. Even when the Insurance. Bill ‘was called on we did not’ reach calm,. We rode into a tem pest. “Mr. Lloyd George had to answer criti cism on that part of the Insurance Bill which deals with Post Office depositors. All” those workers” despised and rejected of friendly socie ties because they were ailing, decrepit, wastrel, and dependent on casual jobs,are to find a re fuge in the: Post: Office. But whilst ‘the friendly : societies. are called: ‘upon:to: give. full benefits to a member though the amount of his contributions may be small, the Post ‘Office de positor is. ‘only. entitled: to: as much benefit’ as will be covered by the money he has deposited. Last night, Mr. Alfred Lytteltone put this part of the scheme under a searching, but not un friendly criticism. Mr. Lloyd George, to whom adulation is breathing the nostrils, believes that everybody, who is not riotously enthusiastic over the Bill is against it, and therefore he girded vindictively at Mr.Lyttelton, “whose speech he described as ‘ singularly futile.” Mr. Lyttelton had pointed out that the de positors would ‘be called ‘upon, ‘to bear the cost of administration of this compulsory thrift im posed upon them, and in enumerating the charges mentioned ‘the Insurance Commis sioner. Here he made a slip, though — his general proposition,” was absolutely correct. Mr. Lloyd George ignored the general Proposi tion, fixed upon this. ‘one ‘point, and ‘in his wildest, most’ reckless, and rudest manner attacked. Mr. “Lyttelton.”He said Mr.” Lyttel ton had not studied’ the ‘Bill, ‘that he had got all his information from an anonymous ‘pamph let, had got it wrong, and then conveyed it to Mr. Balfour during a companionable ‘foursome at golf. Mr. Lloyd’ George i is a master of twist, and, ignoring the main strain of Mr. Lyttel ton’s argument, grew fearsomely indignant‘ over his ignorance’on the matter of the Insurance Commissioners. Mr. Lyttelton’ had. to protest ‘against. misrepresentation.. This’ nettled the Chancellor: ‘of the Exchequer ; he’ banged ‘and slashed to “the tremendous delight of ‘the Radical rank and file.’ “I hope and trust,” snarled Mr..Lloyd Georgé, “that when’ Mr. Lyttelton next addresses a meeting in the coun try ‘he will take the trouble of ascertaining the facts and of ‘stating them ‘accurately. 1 Minis terialists cheered, So did the Opposition, but ironically:' ’ Yes,” ‘said: Mr. HW. Forster in a vigorous’ reply, ‘C and . when. ‘Mr. Lloyd corse: again goes to Whitefield’s ‘Tabernacle 1 hope. ‘he will describe the’ provisions of. his own Bill with that degree of accuracy he de mands. from his opponents. On three points he was wholly and fundamentally Wrong, and I ex pect he is glad it was only three.” AN AMENDMENT ACCEPTED. Mr. Lloyd George. accepted the. amendment proposed’ last: night by Mr. Sherwell, ‘that ‘the Post Office’ deposit: section of the Bill should remain in’ operation as an experiment only until the beginning of 1915. “‘He gave a broad hint that, before this, Parliament died ‘various big, social ameliorations. ‘would be attempted— housing, child sickness, reform :of the .“Poor Law. in the ‘talk ‘which followed Mr. Ramsay Macdonald was ill for raising the Post Office contributor to the same level as the member of a ‘ friendly: society. But, in ‘the end. Mr. Sheriwell’s ‘amendment was agreed -to.. There were then endeavours. to: improve the faulty machinery of ‘the measure so.far as. it.affected the depositors, “but - absolutely - W w ithout: avail, Mr. ‘Lloyd George set his teeth so. far as amendments from the, Opposition. were con cerned. ‘But in hen, a Government supporter, Mr. ‘Edmunnd. Harvey, wanted to provide that the contributions of a deceased. Post. Office con tributor should, according to the amount of his ‘credit, ‘be handed over to relatives, he acquiesced at. once. Suddenly’ all interest. evaporated. The House was. well-nigh deserted: ‘The. time-table busi ness ‘of ‘the. night slipped through without the application of the guillotine, and to the astonishment .of most people things * petered out.”’. by. “nine . 0 ‘clock, and ‘the “House. : was instantly adjourned.. It is a pity Mr. Balfour is not attending. the. debates. JOHN. FOSTER FRASER.
Newspaper Details
London Standard
London, Middlesex, GB
Thu, Nov 02, 1911
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
David M.
USA 03 Jul 2026
Other Publications Near London, Middlesex
Bingleys Journal
Arminian Magazine
London Daily Mail
London Stars and Stripes
London Daily Universal Register
