Mr. Samuel then wished to make a statement as to
what the Government proposed to do in view of the collapse of the Marconi contract, but several members of the Committee objected that this would be outside the Committee's terms of reference. The matter was discussed in private for forty minutes, and when the public were readmitted the chairman announced that it bad been decided not to hear Mr. Samuel's statement. The majority of the Committee had, in fact, passed a resolution to the effect that as the contract which formed the subject of reference was not to be enforced " it is unnecessary for the Committee further to pursue its inquiry, and it so reports to the House." We regard this decision to wind up the work of the Committee as most unfortunate. At one time the Committee were ready and anxious to call in evidence of the most irrelevant description; at the end it has been impossible to persuade them to examine evidence which might be of real importance. For the past month the Daily Express has day by day insisted that " a repre- sentative of Solomon and Co., stockbrokers, of Austin Friars," should be called and also "a representative of the Victoria Street Branch of the National Provincial Bank of England." The Express has also asked for an examination of the whole of Mr. Fenner's books and papers " now in Mr. F. S. Salesman's custody." To leave these matters untouched was a very grave omission on the part of the Committee.
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