ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.
(Extracted from the Diary Of Toby, M.P.)
House of Commons, Monday, March 2.—In speech of flawless lucidity displaying perfect command of columnar figures upon which strength of British Navy is based, the Winsome Winston moved Supplementary Estimates amounting to two and a-half millions. These raise total expenditure of year on the Navy to forty-eight millions. "A serious event," he admitted amid sympathetic cheers from below Gangway to his right. Necessity arises from increased expenditure on oil reserves; from demand for a quarter of a million for the new aircraft programme, an item unknown to Old Morality or Childers when successively at the Admiralty; from increment of wages and acceleration of ship-building.
He might have mentioned that of grand total close upon two millions is legacy left by former Ministry on account of liabilities incurred before 1905. Whilst present Government, austerely-minded, pay their way as they go, meeting increased expenditure out of revenue, Prince Arthur, with characteristically light heart, built ships and strengthened fortifications, raising the money by loan, which he gaily left to posterity to pay off. Posterity has this pleasant task in hand now, and will continue to be engaged upon it for next twenty years.
Winston judiciously refrained from pressing the point. Had enough on his hands with discontented supporters below Gangway, who resent ever-increasing burden of Naval expenditure. Ramsay Macdonald lodged protest on behalf of Labour Members; stopped short of moving reduction of vote. This done by David Mason of Coventry.
"A hollow demonstration," was Gilbert Parker's terse description of the revolt. On a division Estimates were carried by a majority of 203. Only 34 voted for reduction.
Prolongation of debate plainly boring. By exception, one listener sat it out with unwearied attention. Nothing precisely cherubic in face or figure of Lord Fisher of Kilverstone, better known on sea and land by the affectionate diminutive Jacky Fisher. Nevertheless, as he sat perched in Peers' Gallery immediately over the clock, a place ever associated with the genial presence of Edward Prince of Wales, there flashed across the mind a familiar couplet sung by Dibdin:—
"There's a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft
To keep watch for the life of poor Jack."
