§ * MR. BRIGHT (Oldham)I beg to ask I the First Lord of the Treasury whether the rule as to the resignation of directorships, on acceptance of office, was made in order to prevent Ministers from occupying their time on matters other than their official duties; and, if so, why private businesses are made an exception; and whether this rule tends to exclude men of commercial experience from all Liberal Governments of the greatest commercial I country of the world.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Sir H. CAMPBELL - BANNERMAN,) Stirling BurghsNo, Sir, I think my hon. friend's fears are exaggerated. I know of no such tendency. All men of commercial experience are not directors of public companies. There is an obvious difference between a partner in an ordinary private business and a director in a public company.