§ Mr. EUGENE WASONI desire your ruling, Sir, on a point of Order which I venture to think affects the rights and privileges of hon. Members of this House. In Grand Committee B, which is considering the Coal Mines Regulation Bill, last Thursday the hon. Member for Mid-Lanark (Mr. Whitehouse) called the attention of the Committee to a letter which he had received enclosed with one from Mr. Robert Baird, and the enclosure contained reflections upon two hon. Members of this House, the hon. Member for the Mansfield Division of Nottingham (Mr. Markham) and the hon. and learned Member for North-West Durham (Mr. Atherley-Jones). In the letter the writer described himself as the secretary to the Associated Coal Owners of Scotland, and in the enclosure it was stated with reference to the remarks made by Messrs. Markham and Atherley-Jones—
It is quite evident that these gentlemen have either wilfully or ignorantly misrepresented the position of Scotland in respect of accidents.Is it not a breach of the privileges of this House that hon. Members should be accused in a Grand Committee upstairs of either wilfully or ignorantly misrepresenting the position. I am directed, Sir, as Chairman of the Committee, to bring the matter to your attention, which I have done at the earliest possible moment, and I shall be glad of your ruling.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not think it will be necessary for me to give any formal ruling on the matter if I read to the House a letter which I have received to-day, and which I think the Committee and the House will probably consider satisfactory. It is dated 16th June, and addressed to the Speaker. It is as follows:—
§ "'At the meeting of the Grand Committee B which took place yesterday, attention was called to a document which had been sent to some members of the Committee by Mr. Robert Baird, as secretary of the Associated Coal Owners of Scotland.
§ "In this document was a statement containing the following sentence:
§ "It is quite evident that these gentlemen (Messrs. Markham and Atherley-Jones) have either wilfully or ignorantly misrepresented the position of Scotland in respect of accidents.'
44§ "This statement had been originally prepared for the information of the members of our associations and had not been intended for general circulation.
§ "At the last moment it was decided to include it with other documents issued to members of the Grand Committee on the Scottish Coal Owners behalf. By inadvertence the expression now complained of was not deleted.
§ "I desire as Chairman of the Scottish Coal Owners' Committee, frankly and unreservedly to withdraw it, and to express regret that it was circulated.
§ "I have the honour to be,
§ "Right Honorable Sir,
§ "Your obedient Servant,
§ "JAMES J. FORGIE."
§ Under these circumstances probably the House and the Committee will rest satisfied with the apology which has been made and will not wish to carry the matter further.