In the House of Commons on Thursday week Mr. McKenna
moved that a Member of Parliament who was also a soldier or sailor must elect whether to receive his Parliamentary salary or his military or naval pay. He could not have both. Sir F. Banbury moved an amendment that would have had the effect of stopping the salaries of all Members. Sir Edward Carson in a speech of excellent sense deprecated both the motion and the amendment. We agree that war time is not the occasion to settle questions of this kind, which should be considered on their merits on high grounds, and not incidentally in relation to a temporary scheme of retrenchment. The hardship on Labour Members if they forfeited their salaries suddenly would be great. And they have deserved well of the State in this war. Ultimately the amendment was defeated and the motion was withdrawn.
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