Business done.—Supplementary Estimates concluded; Report of Supply agreed to; way cleared for Appropriation Bill.
Tuesday Night.—Henry Fowler explained Parish Council Bill in speech of equal force and lucidity. "Hands all round," as Tennyson said, in applause of speech and approval of Bill. Jesse Collings rather hinted that anything good in measure was conveyed from Ritchie's Bill, and everyone knows that Ritchie was mere lay-figure behind which Jesse controlled policy of Local Government Board under last Administration. Even this criticism meant as compliment. No harsher note disturbed chorus of approval.
Jokim, in effusion of moment, led into making interesting confession. As he says, only he put it stronger, general impression is that he is not particularly attached to Agricultural Labourer. Bobby Spencer, when he made his historic declaration—"Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am not an Agricultural Labourer"—understood to have Jokim in his mind; endeavouring to ingratiate himself with the statesman who, at the time, was Chancellor of Exchequer. Jokim, certainly, through long and honourable career, never lost opportunity of hustling Hodge. Deductions drawn from this attitude entirely erroneous. Only been dissembling his love. Made clean breast of it to-day. Clasping his hands with genuine emotion, tear plainly tickling through his voice, he exclaimed, "It has been the dream of my life to educate the Agricultural Labourer in Parish affairs!"
"CATCHING VOTES."
(Suggested by the Picture "Catching Flies.")
"Well, I must say, I never would have thought it," said Grandolph, regarding with new interest his Right Hon. friend.
Business done.—Parish Councils Bill brought in.