The debate in the Commons on Monday on the second
reading of the Board of Trade Bill, which forms part of the scheme for raising the status of that Department and of the Local Government Board, led to some vigorous protests from members of the Labour Party and some Ministerialists. Mr. Pease, the Liberal Whip, while admitting that the Bill had met with little support, pointed out that its purport had been misapprehended. The present occupant of the office would receive no increase of salary; and the question involved was not merely that the President's salary should be raised, but that the permanent officials, who were the advisers of the Board, should be selected and well paid. For ourselves, we entirely agree with Mr. F. E. Smith, who in supporting the seeond reading urged that if it were right that the salary of future Presidents of the Board of Trade should be at the rate of E5,000 a year, it would be inc an to debar the present occupant of that post from receiving that rate of payment. It is natural that Mr. Churchill should be unwilling that the Act should apply to him, but this is a case where Parliament ought to override his personal opinion. Ultimately, after the Closure had been carried, the second reading was agreed to by 152 votes to 76.
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