On the Government Benches Mr. Churchill was listened to with
manifest impatience. Not unnaturally he is regarded as a partisan in the dispute upon which the Select Committee is now adjudicating. Moreover, the subject is one upon which a number of M.P.s already seemed to have formed a definite opinion without waiting for the Committee's findings. However, Mr. Churchill scored heavily over those of his critics who were inclined to be vocal. " We are told," he declared, " that the House and still more the country are sick and tired of this matter." This was greeted with loud cheers. Quite unperturbed, the speaker glanced at the packed benches and proceeded : " Anyone looking around the House can see how utterly bored and sick and deficient in interest the Members are in the whole of this matter ; how they are all longing to get away from it to more important topics (more cheering)—great issues of agriculture or of unemployment (prolonged cheers)—on which during long hours this Chamber will be lamentably empty." * * *
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