§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he has received a letter from the corporation of Glasgow with reference to the sale of tramway horses, and whether he has any information in connection with this matter which he desires to communicate to the House.
LORD STANLEYWill the hon. Member kindly refer to the reply which I gave to a question put by the hon. Member for the Govan Division of Lanarkshire on Monday last.†
§ CAPTAIN NORTONArising out of that reply, I hope, with your permission, Mr. Speaker, I may make a personal statement. In a recent debate I made a certain assertion of fact, and the Financial Secretary to the Treasury traversed it and completely denied it. Immediately afterwards those concerned sent a letter to the Secretary for War—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! This does not seem to me to be a personal explanation. A personal explanation must relate to a matter which in some way affects the character or reputation of an hon. Member, and it does not appear to me that it does so in this case. The hon. Member cannot enter into an argument on the subject.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONI wish to point out that I made a statement on my own responsibility, and it was denied from the Treasury Bench. I have now proof
† See preceding volume, page 1144.83 positive that my statement was absolutely correct, although the hon. Gentleman said it was false.
§ MR. SPEAKERThat cannot be dealt with as a question of personal explanation. It was not imputed against the hon. Member that he had made a statement which he did not believe to be true, and mere want of accuracy does not amount to a personal reflection upon him.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONMy only object in rising was to prove that I was accurate in my statement.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is now putting himself out of court. He cannot proceed to argue that he is right.