HC Deb 18 March 1913 vol 50 cc838-9
36. Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of works, whether the attention of the First Commissioner has been called to the fact that the inscription on the brazen tablet recently placed in Westminster Hall in commemoration of the trial of Warren Hastings that "on this spot Warren Hastings stood for his trial" is bad English and likewise unmeaning; and whether, in order to make the inscription more intelligible and in consonance with the English language, the First Commissioner will give directions that the word "for" should be deleted from the inscription, and the word "at" placed in its stead, or that the forms of either of the inscriptions in Westminster Hall on the tablets in commemoration of the trials of Charles I. and Strafford, in which on one tablet it is stated that the tablet "marks the spot where Charles Stuart, King of England, stood before the Court which sat for his trial," and on the other tablet that it "marks the place where Strafford stood during the impeachment," be adopted, with the necessary alterations, and inscribed on the Warren Hastings' tablet?

Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN (Lord of the Treasury)

The attention of the First Commissioner has been called to the tablet, but he is unable to agree with my hon. Friend that the words are ungrammatical. He is of opinion, taking all things into consideration, that they are open to less criticism than any of the alternatives suggested by my hon. Friend.

Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

Before the First Commissioner made up his mind as to the use of "stood for" on this tablet did he consult the authorities, from which he would see that there is no authority whatever for the use of these words?

Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN

I have no doubt that the First Commissioner, before coming to a decision, took all necessary steps in the way of consultation.

Mr. SWIFT MacNEILL

Will my hon. Friend give me an assurance that in the case of future tablets the words to be used on these memorials in Westminster Hall will be so devised as to he understood by the people at large?

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