, The Government is for the time being so firmly
en- trenched in the House of Commons and in the support of the country that one or two Cabinet Ministers are adopting a rather contemptuous tone in their answers to supplementary questions. Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister is a particular offender. As Secretary of State for the Colonies he tended to answer a persistent enquirer as if his demands were a personal affront to himself. The habit is growing on him now that he is at the Air Ministry. His replies, for instance, on Wednesday afternoon, to Dr. Addison's very reasonable doubts whether the powers taken by him were sufficient to check profiteering in air armaments, were quite unwarrantably offensive and arrogant. He thumped the box and shouted answers so provocative that in a few seconds the House was in an uproar. The more he resented the questioning the more persistent, of course, became the enquirers from the Labour benches. Clearly Cunliffe-Lister-baiting will become one of the recognized amusements for the rest of the session. It is a great pity, for Sir Philip is in the ordinary intercourse of his department sym- pathetic and helpful and a really efficient administrator. It may be irritating to be cross-examined on the details of policy, but that after all is the democratic system, and the House of Commons quite irrespective of party is determined to work it.
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