BACCARAT PLAY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1930, Page 6

BACCARAT PLAY

INCIDENT IN THE COMMONS

MR- SNOWDEN’S STATEMENT

LONDON, May 30.

An incident which occurred just before midnight in the debate oii the second reading of, the Finance Bill in the House of Commons on May 20th was raised after questions in the House jof Commons on May 22nd. While winding up the debate for the Government, Mr -Snowden (Chancellor of the Exchequer) discussed the question of saving, remarking that there was not now, especially among well-to-do people, the same disposition to .save as formerly. He then proceeded to say that there was. an article in a newspaper dealing will the woes of a party who arrived at Victoria station from the Continent penniless,, having lost all their money at the gambling table. Continuing, he added: “In the same paper here is a description of what happens at these gambling tables when baccarat is played: ‘Each player becomes banker in turn, and. some of those who did -so last night atLe Touquet were Sir Robert Horne and Mrs Dudley Ward.’ -Sir Philip Sassoon, I am told, looked ; sardonically on.” '

UNWRITTEN LAW AND PRACTICE Mi Winston Churchill, ' raising the question on May 22nd, asked for a ruling by the Speaker as to how 'far a member or a. Minister was justified in referring in debate to private persons outside the blouse,, and in coil piling the name of h lady with a member of the House. Such a [matter could not b*e outside the realms of strict oi'dei, because it was possible that if these kinds of allusions and references' became common in the House they would lead on occasion to extremely disordeily episodes in the proceedings which would be regretted by all. But quite apart 'from the question of order, he asked whether the unwritten rule and practice of the House to regard all references to conversations nr the lobby or the smoking-room as ’unsuitable' to debate should not be adopted to protect’private individuals'from annoyance. (Conservative ebrers.)

THE SPEAKER’S RULING The Speaker, pointing otit that it would have been better had the subject been raised at the time, said : “In a matter of this kinjl tbie House will realise that., my duty‘ in . the conduct of debate- is to tliq best; of my ability to ensure that tije, delmte, is conducted with decoruin, and'.ajsp to see that the privileges pf ( .the House are thoroughly safeguarded- Within the rules of order members, arc entitled to freedom of speech and to express their views as they think fit. ’’evond that T must leave it entirely to members themselves to ppprociate L 1 ieir own responsibilities....As;. regards the actual quotation read hy<,tlye ; Cliu-n; c-ellor of the .Exchequer, to. which,:! Air Churchill takes exception,; :• I Rave no ruling to' give because there;•is .no •mint of order arising. If I say anytirnrr it caii but' lje%(lM ; opinion of what should or should not be done in this House.f'T "think~ r it' would be better if no y^fe fence; was made to incidents in the-private lives of members, because 1 do not think any of us is sd“perfect that we aie ;l I,le (Laughter, which drowned the closing words of the sentence.) Asregards the other question . which arises, it does not appear to me -that references especially bv name to incidents in the private lives of members outside this House are not desirable.” (Cons, cheers.)

REFERENCES IN HOUSE. Air Snowden [said: “I entirely agree with the concluding part of Mr Speak-, er’s remarks.': [As h' general rule it is very undesirable;;' that references should be ill, tie;lni this House to people who are outside, but we all know Mat as a' mailer of fact the- general rule and i a good many particular exceptions. “Regarding this particular incident, may I remind the House of the circumstances which gave rise to my remarks? 1 was dealing with statements which had been made by Sir Robert Horne about tlie export ol capital and lack oi savings which would result from the provisions ol the Budget, and -in very genera) terms, and without any personal reference to anybody, I pointed out one form of the export of capital, and quoted a certain newspaper .about the ■.spectacle which Victoria Station alforcled a. day or two after Easter by Britishers who had come back to /this country from the Continent with empty pockets. Then Sir Bolton EyresMonsell, Chief Tory Whip, threw an observation across the floor which was heard by the whole House, mentioning the liable of an lion, colleague oi. mine. cheers and a voice-: “'Nia longer a colleague-.”) 'hen 1 said that if lie were there he. was not alone. That observation was followed by loud and prolonged cheers from the Opposition side of the House, evidently conveying some insinuation or iiiiiuoiulo. It was only after that incident that I read the extract. (An Deposition member: “ You might apologise to the lady.”) LETTER TO SIR ROBERT HORNE. “ When my attention was directed to newspaper references this* morning to this incident and a " construction which had been placed upon what I read which was far from my mind, I at once wrote the following letter to Sir Robert Horne:

“ ‘lt would have been most linpioper for me to have made, even by the vaguest implication, any insinuation of the kind which seems to be suggested, and I hope it is unnecessary for me to say that nothing was further from my mind.’ “ T might add that the debate at that stage had become -somewhat '•eble, and what I said was said unpremeditatedlv- and in the circumstances which I have explained. I can only repeat tlie observation that as a general principle I think it is highly improper that the names of outsiders should be introduced unless it is absolutely necessary. I want further .to say that if what I did has caused any pain at all to any of the persons eoncorned, I am deeply, sorry.’ ” (Cheers.)