LIEUT.-COMMANDER KENWORTHY GIVES AN INFERIOR IMITATION OF MR. CHARLES CHAPLIN.
Undeterred by his failure over tea, Commander Kenworthy next attacked the duty on films, complaining inter alia, "Mr. Chaplin is taxed twenty pounds for every thousand feet." Mr. Chamberlain defended the tax on general grounds, but wisely avoided Mr. Chaplin's feet, over which it is notoriously easy to trip.
The debate on the beer duty shattered one more illusion. It is an article of faith with the "Wee Frees" that Sir George Younger is the power behind the scenes, and that Mr. Lloyd George is a mere marionette, who only exists to do his bidding. Yet here was the autocrat confessing, quâ brewer, that the latest addition to the beer duty was the biggest surprise of his life.
Tuesday, July 6th.—The Lord Chancellor's request for leave of absence in order that he might attend the Spa Conference was granted. Lord Crewe's remark, that it was "a matter of regret that the Government had to depend upon the noble and learned lord for legal assistance," might perhaps have been less ambiguously worded. At any rate Lord Birkenhead thought it necessary to allay any possible apprehensions by adding that he would be accompanied by the Attorney-General.
The gist of Mr. Churchill's comprehensive reply to allegations of waste at Chilwell was that there were not enough sheds to cover all the stores, and that to build additional accommodation would cost more than it would save. There was a pleasant Hibernian flavour about his admission that the goods, "if they remained in their present condition, would, of course, deteriorate."
Who says that D.O.R.A. has outlived her usefulness? The Home Secretary announced that the sale of chocolates in theatres is still verboten, so the frugal swain, whose "best girl" has a healthy appetite, may breathe again.
Mr. Clynes. "Look here—if the price of ale keeps on going up like this I'll have to speak to Austen Chamberlain about it."
Mr. Clynes, usually so cautious, was in a reckless mood. First he tried to move the adjournment over the Golovin revelations, and was informed by the Speaker that a report of doubtful authenticity, relating to events that happened over a year ago, could hardly be described as either "urgent" or "definite."