THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT
FROM A CORRESPONDENT.
THE House returned from the Easter recess to resume the Committee Stage of the Economy Bill, the Unionists with their anxieties as to its effect upon the future of Health Insurance largely relieved, the Labour and Liberal Parties determined to carry on their opposition a outrance. Two all-night sittings resulted, in the first of which thirteen Labour members amused themselves first by loitering and singing and then by lying down and, some of them, even, it is said, dancing in the Division lobby instead of recording their votes. These novel Parliamentary activities, in which one Privy Councillor and several members of the Opposition front- bench engaged, were brought to an end by the arrival of the Speaker, who met the situation with a skill, dignity and initiative which delighted the House.
In the more legitimate operation of debating the Bill, the chief interest lay in Mr. Thomas's leadership of the Opposition. Mr. Thomas, showing with a self- satisfaction perhaps a little too obvious " how an artist would do it," displayed a really remarkable range and variety of Parliamentary gifts. Every style and every mood was tried and all with distinction. He threatened and cajoled, bantered and thundered by turns—a remark- able performance, by which his party was certainly not unimpressed.
But as a stick to beat the Government with his per- formance was a disappointment, and when the House met on Monday a pact was arranged " through the usual channels," and the Committee stage wound up on Tuesday without further loss of sleep or temper.
Meanwhile, it had afforded Mr. Lloyd George an oppor- tunity, of which he made full use, of cultivating friendly relations with the Labour Party. In a word, the Parlia- mentary comedy was in full swing.
Friday saw the House dealing with the difficult question of the publishing of the more sordid and unsavoury details of divorce cases. The all-but unanimous vote by which the Judicial Proceedings Bill secured a second reading showed that the politician is not yet, as it is often said, the slave of the Press. But the wisdom of the Bill is doubtful. In " high life " and " low " ventilation may well be the best medicine for social ailments and evils. And where the evidence in a case is fit only for medical text-books, it seems both undesirable and absurd that a crowded audience may listen in Court to details which the papers are forbidden to publish. To clear the Court in such cases, not to curb the Press, is the soundest, because the most comprehensive, solution of the difficulty. In any case, this Bill will only partially cleanse the gutter, and will in the end of the day perhaps prove to be little more than a " gesture." But whatever the merits of the Bill, the debate was admirable. Sir Evelyn Cecil's speech showed how much debating skill is yet largely unused in the rough-and-tumble of party life. Mr. Tom Johnston added another to the series of powerful speeches he has made this Session, while the Home Secretary was at his best in the role of Mrs. Grundy's husband. But most noteworthy was Sir John Simon, who has, all of a sudden, acquired a real Parliamentary style, and now markedly holds the attention and interest of the House. Does he see the leadership of a purged and orthodox Liberal Party almost within his grasp ?
Throughout the week lobby and smoking-room have heard hardly 'a word- said about coal. Members seem determined to avoid discussion on a matter which, in fact, is beyond their control. The attitude of the House is that of men waiting for a miracle to happen. At the moment the faith is strong that happen it will.
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