27 JULY 1929, Page 3

The Home Development Bill On Friday, July 19th, Mr. J.

H. Thomas was not at his best in explaining the details of the Government's Home Development Bill. He piled up his resentment against Mr. Churchill and. Mr. Lloyd, George for having asked that the strict control of the House of Commons over finance should be maintained. In particular he failed in his jocular " telling off " of Mr. Boothby for having dared to offer criticisms. It was a mistake to describe Parliamentary Private Secretaries as door- keepers, whose job was to dance attendance on Ministers and see that they had something to drink. After all, the Labour Ministers cannot get on without their Par- liamentary Private Secretaries any more than other Ministers. The explanation of all this heavy playful- ness was, no doubt, that Mr. Thomas did not like giving way, but, happily, he did give way. He said that he would accept " any reasonable financial limit " suggested by the House.

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