On Tuesday Mr. Harold Cox drew the Speaker's attention to
what be held to be a breach of privilege committed by the Board of Inland Revenue. The Board, he pointed out, had issued instructions to the pension officers to the effect that in estimating a claimant's income, they were to take into account the value of free board and lodging, but not the value of furniture and personal effects, unless it exceeded £.30, and they were always to deduct £30 from the value of the furniture. Mr. Cox contended that the effect of these instructions, un- authorised by anything in the Act or the Treasury Regale, Cons, was to impose a charge on the taxpayer, and therefore constituted a breach of the privilege of the House, The Courts of Law could not be invoked to correct it. and the Comptroller and Auditor-General could only intervene after two years. Op the Speaker declaring his inability to move, the matter came up again at questimatime sm Wednesday and on Thursday, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer not only was unable to deny Mr. Con's statement, but gave a most lame explanation of the action taken by the Department. It is to be hoped that the matter will not be allowed to rest here.
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