The Ex-First Commoner

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 418, 1 September 1928, Page 26

The Ex-First Commoner

Mr. Speaker Whitley’s Popularity

M

R. SPEAKER WHITLEY, who has just departed the chair of the British House of Commons, is being hailed as the

greatest of English First Commoners in the last half-century. Recalling the fame of Peel, Gully, and Lowther, it is a mighty compliment.

A. G. Gardiner once wrote that “Mr, Feel ruled by awe, Mr. Gully by law, Mr. Lowther by bluff common sense and good-humour.” Speaker Whitley had all three qualities seemingly rolled into one. He was stern for the dignity of his office, and a stickler for the rules, yet he contrived to make the members feel that he was one of

themselves, not a chill rebuking figure in wig and gown., but a man and brother. He presided at Westminster in a period as stormy as any in its history. There is a curious legend that the “Mother of Parliaments” is a decorous, dignified assembly, beside which other Houses of Commons are bear gardens. But the truth is just the contrary.

One has but to recall the turbulent j scenes between the O'Conneilites and j the Tories, when challenges to duels were quite common; the physical com- ‘ bats between Home Rulers and Union - ists In the days of Gladstone; the passionate scenes when the Grand Old Man himself was howled down by violent opponents. It was a, rare week l then when some fiery Nationalist did j not call some Tory a liar, and get ejected from the House for his vehemI ence. I And so in more recent years. There was the scene when Ronald McNeill hit Winston Churchill in the face with a Blue Book; the bodily attack upon “Joe” Devlin by Major Molson; the fist fight between Mr. Amery and the Clyde Socialist, Mr. Buchanan; and the countless battles with the obstroperous and irrepressible Jack i Jones. | In all such situations Whitley kept j his head, also mastery of the House. Scrupulously fair, and anxious always to give Labour its rights, he declined to be carried away by passion or anger, but to his suavity and courtesy, and despite his good temper and humour, he could administer a rebuke with a shaft of irony as searing as it was salutary. In the end the Labourites, almost to a man, became his admirers and friends. Apart from his services as Speaker, Whitley will be remembered as the father of the Civil Service Councils which bear his name.