§ Mr. SPEAKER informed the House that he had received the following letter from the right honourable Gentleman the senior Member for Oldham announcing his resignation of the office of Chairman of Ways and Means, which he read to the House as followeth:—
§ "30, Ennismore Gardens, S.W.,
§ "24th October, 1911.
§ "Dear Mr. Speaker,
§ "His Majesty has been graciously pleased to confer a peerage on me, and it, therefore, becomes my duty to signify to you my resignation of the Office of Chairman of Committee of Ways and Means, which the House did me the honour to give me in this Parliament.
§ "I cannot do so without thanking you for the great assistance you have often given me, and for the kindness you have invariably shown me; without thanking every section of the House for the courtesy and consideration they have displayed to me in a position in which it is impossible to please everybody, and, lastly, 111 without acknowledging the ever ready help which the officials of the House have rendered me in the performance of duties which are, at times, difficult and anxious.
§ "I have the honour,
§ "Dear Mr. Speaker, to remain,
§ "Yours sincerely,
§ "ALFRED EMMOTT."
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)I beg to move that Mr. John Henry Whitley be appointed Chairman of Ways and Means.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Ordered, That the Right Honourable John Henry Whitley be appointed Chairman of Ways and Means.