Business done.—McKenna moves Second Heading of Welsh Church Disestablishment Bill.
Tuesday.—Wholesome spirit of enquiry animates House just now. Bonner Law leads off with demand for judicial inquiry into "the Plot." Fact that its appointment would establish novel precedent in constitutional procedure adds interest to situation. Premier, with emphatic thump of the table that reminds it of Gladstone in his prime, stands by constitutional practice.
"If," he said, "the right hon. gentleman is prepared to make and sustain his allegation of dishonourable conduct on part of the Ministers, I will give him the earliest possible day to bring it forward. But," and here came the thump on the long-suffering table, "he must make it in this House."
Inspired by this high principle of getting at bottom of shady things, Richardson has Chief Whip up and sternly questions him about appointment of certain public auditors under Industrial and Provident Acts.
Position of Chief Whip, though dignified and important, has inevitable result of withdrawing him from participation in debate. Illingworth now has his chance. Made the most of it. Head paper of prodigious length containing memoirs of the two gentlemen concerned, together with succinct history of the birth and progress of the Hetton Downs Co-operative Society, county Durham, of which one of them had been secretary.
House entranced. Rounds of cheering marked progress of narrative, concluding passages inconveniently rendered inaudible by tumultuous applause.
Apprehension in some quarters that this will be the ruin of a really capable, universally popular Whip. Edmund Talbot goes so far as to hint at apprehension that Illingworth will turn up every afternoon at Question time and give us another speech.
Fear exaggerated. Illingworth a shrewd Yorkshireman; knows very well brilliant success of to-day was due to concatenation of accidental circumstance. Not likely to risk suddenly acquired reputation by hasty repetition of exploit.
Business done.—Welsh Church Disestablishment Bill passes Second Reading by majority of 84.
Thursday.—Spirit of enquiry alluded to above manifests itself in fresh direction. The other day Charles Price wanted to know all about political pensions granted to ex-Ministers. Intrigued by disclosure of particulars of estate of our old friend Grand Cross. It appears he left property valued at £91,617. That a pleasant incident closing a worthy life. But, as Member for Central Edinburgh points out, he had for twenty-two years been in receipt of pension of £2,000 a year, a dole from public funds obtainable, as Prime Minister admits, only upon statutory declaration of a state of poverty incompatible with the maintenance of position proper to an ex-Minister.