ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
(Extracted from the Diary of Toby, M.P.)
House of Commons, Monday, June 22.—Great muster of forces on both sides. Not wholly explained by second reading of Budget Bill standing as first Order. A section of Ministerialists, purists in finance, took exception to proposed procedure. Holt, spokesman at mouth of new Cave, put down amendment challenging Chancellor of Exchequer's proposals. Here was chance for watchful Opposition. If some thirty Ministerialists would go with them into Lobby it would not quite suffice to turn out Ministry; but it would be better than a Snap Division, with its personal inconvenience of preliminary hiding in bath-rooms and underground cellars.
Wicket-keeper (Mr. Cassel). "How's that?"
Umpire (Mr. Speaker). "Out!"
Batsman (Mr. Lloyd George). "Rotten antiquated rule!"
["I did not expect ... that hon. members would go rummaging in the dustbins of ancient precedent to find obstacles to place in the way of these proposals."—Mr. Lloyd George on his Budget.]