When Parliament reassembled on Monday and the House of Commons
went into Committee of Supply on the Civil Service Estimates, the burden of defence fell chiefly on Mr. Harcourt. In dealing with criticisms, some captious, others legitimate, Mr. Harcourt displayed a fertility of resource, an imperturbability of temper, and a pleasant humour which conduced largely to the rapid progress of business. Perhaps his most successful effort was the reply to Mr. J. Ward, who protested against the vote of £33,500 for. the Houses of Parliament buildings, on the ground that the House of Lords performed no useful. function in our Con- stitution. Mr. Harcourt declared that he "entirely sym- pathised with the ultimate object of the bon. Member, and when he went tiger-hunting across the lobby he (Mr. Harcourt) hoped to accompany him, either as loader or beater, but he did not think it was good policy for a shikari to go into the cover, and disturb the game in advance with a popgun."
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