GOVERNMENT OF INDIA BILL.

HC Deb 05 August 1919 vol 119 cc187-8

Ordered, That Sir Donald Maclean be discharged from the Select Committee on the Government of India Bill. —[Colonel Gibbs.]

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Acland be added to the Committee." —[Colonel Gibbs.]

Colonel YATE

I think I should take this opportunity of protesting, not against the personality of the appointment of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Camborne (Mr. Acland), but because the opportunity has not been taken to appoint some Member with a recent knowledge of India. There are a number of Members of this House who have had experience in India, and I think the occasion should have been seised to appoint one of these rather than a right hon. Gentleman who has never been in India. Although, of course, I am delighted that the hon. Member for Cam-borne should join the Committee, I do feel that now that a vacancy has occurred the Prime Minister should take the matter into consideration and appoint someone with recent knowledge of India. I hope indeed, he will consider this matter before finally sanctioning this appointment.

Mr. BONAR LAW

No doubt there is a great deal of force in what my hon. and gallant Friend has said about the value of Indian experience, but he is a very old Member of the House of Commons, and he knows perfectly well the principle on which these Committees are appointed. The members are taken from different parties. My right hon. Friend opposite has resigned, and one of the oldest rules we have is that the party to which the retiring Member belongs should have the nomination of his successor. I think it would be a great mistake to depart from that practice.

Colonel YATE

May I ask —

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. and gallant Gentleman has exhausted his right of speaking.