SPEAKER'S PRIVILEGES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 425, 6 August 1928, Page 11

SPEAKER'S PRIVILEGES

CUSTOMS DYING OUT ROYAL WARRANT FOR VENISON Recent references to the ancient perquisites of the Speaker of the House of Commons have led to the discovery that only one of them remains. Many have been under the impression that the Speaker received each Christmas a width of broadcloth from the Ciothworkers’ Company, but It seems that this custom was abandoned many years ago. “The only perquisite—if it can be called a perquisite—which existed in my time,” says Viscount U 11swater, “came to me in the form a Royal Warrant entitling me to half a buck, or doe, from Windsor. “Some Speakers do not make use of the warrant, but I like venison, and I always availed myself of the warrant. “X used to send the warrant to the proper quarter with a sovereign—that was the custom —and I always got the venison.” Service of Plate Lord Ullswater recalled the old practice of presenting each new Speaker with a service of plate. “W’Ken a new Speaker takes office he is given an inventory of the plate, and when he goes out of office he has to deliver up all that is on the list“A number of things had been stolen when I went out of office, and I had to bear the expense of supplying others.” Lord ITllswater was Speaker of the House of Commons from 1905 to 1921. when he was succeeded by Mr. Whitley.