On Tuesday the House presented a forlorn appearance when Mr.
Runciman rose to open his case for the Shipping Subsidy. The Conservative Conference hod bereft it of all except the tiny Labour and Liberal oppositions and a handful of non-Conservative supporters of the Govern- ment huddled together on the front bench below the gangway. Even when the Conservative members began to drift. back, interest was centred in the corridors rather than in the Chamber. The idea put forward in some quarters, that it was with reluctance that the over- whelming majority of the Conservative members sup- ported the Government's India policy, is nonsense. There was general and genuine rejoicing at the result. It is felt that the die-bards are 14 the time being a negligible force. Indeed, there is growing impatience at the thought of 64 days of invaluable Parliamentary time being given up to the debate on the India Bill, when the Opposition is so scanty and so intransigent.
Previous page
