[323] Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates, April 22, 1901, p. 919.
[324] Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates, February 25, 1903, p. 803; and March 9, 1903, p. 108.
[325] Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates, July 10, 1902, p. 1,359; and August 8, 1902, p. 1,102.
[326] Who’s Who, 1905, Hobhouse, C. E. H., M. P. (R.), East Bristol since 1900; Recorder of Wills since 1901. Education: Eton; Christ Church, Oxford. M. P. (L), East Wilts, 1892-95; private secretary at Colonial Office, 1892-95; County Alderman, Wilts, 1893 to present time. Clubs: Brooks’, Naval and Military.
[327] Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates, March 15, 1906.
[328] Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates, April 28, 1904, p. 1,428; April 14, and May 12, 1904, p. 1,253.
CHAPTER XVI
Members of the House of Commons Intervene on Behalf of Public Servants Who Have Been Disciplined
Evidence presented before: The Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the Civil Establishments, 1888; and the Tweedmouth Committee, 1897. Instances of intervention by Members of Parliament. Mr. Austen Chamberlain, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, in April, 1902, states that at a low estimate one-third of the time of the highest officials in the Post Office is occupied with petty questions of discipline and administrative detail, because of the intervention of Members of Parliament. He adds that it is “absolutely deplorable” that time and energy that should be given to the consideration of large questions must be given to matters that “in any private business would be dealt with by the officer on the spot.” Sir John Eldon Gorst’s testimony before the Committee on National Expenditure, 1902.