13 MAY 1938, Page 3

Since he became a Member of Parliament five years ago

Sir Arnold Wilson has accumulated an immense store of curious but useful knowledge. This week he has introduced a Bill to remove the disabilities of chimney-sweeps. Most of his colleagues must have learned for the first time that sweeps have for the last fifty years been under a statutory inability to knock at a door or to ring a bell without becoming liable to a penalty of £5. Nor was it generally known that every member of their calling who employs an assistant must contribute half a crown a year to the local police pension fund. The House seemed very willing to redress the grievances of a class which, as Sir Arnold pointed out, does more to prevent fires than all the fire brigades in the kingdom.