3 MARCH 1950, Page 4

On Wednesday when the Speaker was elected in the House

of

Commons the bells of St. Margaret's across the road pealed out. That is in accordance with precedent. It is also in accordance with precedent that the Speaker himself should defray the cost of the little celebration. What sum Colonel Clifton Brown will be mulcted in I do not know, but I have no doubt he would rather pay it than not be Speaker, or for that matter be Speaker without the bells.

There are not many people for whom bells ring, except when they get married, and not always even then. JANUS.