BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1926, Page 2

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.]

COMMONS DEBATE. LONDON, July 12. In the House of Commons, Rt. Hon. A. Henderson moved for the appointment of a select committee to consider how far, a Alinister of the Crown may be associated with n public or with a private company that is in contractual relations with the Government. Referring to the Alinister of Health, Air Neville Chamberlain's directorship in the company of Hosting and Sons, of Birmingham, Air Henderson said, that when this question was raised in 1906. The defence of the late Joseph Chamberlain at that time was the smallness of his investment in the concern in question. Such a defence, said Afr Henderson, could not he made to-day. He pointed out that the Somerset House returns showed that Afr Neville Chamberlain held 2,395 out of the total of five thousand shares in the company Hoskins and Sons, to which seven Government contracts have been given during the life of tho present Government. During the period of eight months of the Labour administration, lie said, the firm in question received only one contract.

Aloreover, declared All- Henderson, the Elliotts Afeta.l Company, of which ATr -Neville Chamberlain was the Inrg'est shareholder, had received fourteen Government contracts. He added, in fairness to AH- Neville Chamberlain, that the latter had resigned his directorship when lie had accepted a post in a former Conservative Government, and also. An the present Government. The position, however, was ail unsatisfactory and anomalous one, and it required to bo clarified. Afr Henderson disclaimed any intention of imputing personal corruption or censuring anyone.

Air Baldwin said that the question really was whether the practice of twenty years past should lie modified, or whether a ATinistor, holding private interests should sell out. Either course presented fresh difficulties. He had come to the conclusion, he said, “thiH the safest thing would bo to lend vour money to the Soviet Government!" The only course open to a Prime Ministcr in seeking for a Alinister was to advertise: “Wanted—a foundling without relations; penniless.”

Li view of the attack made upon his colleague, Air Baldwin said he intended to vote for an amendment which Lord Hugh Cecil had previously moved to tlie effect: “That while this House is willing to inquire into the established) rules governing the subject, which rules all present Afinisters have always strictly observed, this House declines to accept such inquiry as a con--cession to an organised campaign of calumny and insinuation, which facts do not justify.” After further debate, in whic-h the Labour members urged the need for an inquiry, and in which the Ministerialists denounced what they alleged to be “a campaign of calumny.” Air Henderson’s motion was rejected by 341 votes to 95. Then Lord Cecil’s amendment was adopted by 3-11 to 98.