PERSONAL EXPLANATION. (Hansard, 19 June 1925)

§ Mr. CHARLETON

With your permission, Sir, I desire to draw the attention of the House to a paragraph which appeared in the "Daily Chronicle" and in the "Daily Dispatch" of yesterday having reference to me. With your permission I will read it, in order that the House may know what it is. In one place my photograph appears. It is headed: Cheap Jacks at Westminster. One paragraph was headed: By our Political Correspondent, which would seem to indicate that it was written by a Pressman about the place. It says: I am told that someone is doing a roaring trade in the sale of cheap jewellery within the sacred precincts of the House of Commons. It was Mr. Charleton, I believe, who landed on some person with a large number of what really looked like gold watches, price 4s. 6d. He brought one or two in, and soon every Labour Member who did not possess a gold watch (and some who did) was clamouring for four-and-sixpenceworth of 'gold' watches. An astute minor official of the House, with an eye to business, heard of this, and at once 958 bought a stock, which he proceeded to sell to his colleagues at 7s. 6d. each. Now, every policeman and messenger in the House is the owner of a massive 'gold' watch. Incidentally the business man made a reasonable profit. The next boom was in 'gold' sleeve links at one penny a pair, which also had a ready sale. I am told that four ex-Ministers on the Labour Front Bench are now wearing these sleeve links. It sounds suspiciously like sweated goods. I desire to say that I know nothing about this, and that the "Daily Chronicle" has expressed regret this morning. I do not know whether those watches have come in. I have not seen them and know nothing about them. I may say, if I may be allowed, that a number of the officials referred to have come to me, seeing that my name has been mentioned, and they also know nothing of the matter. This is particularly unfair on these officials, as they have no opportunity of bringing the matter before the House. These officials enter our party meetings, and we have implicit confidence in them. I feel deeply hurt at this; and I feel, also, seeing how this is headed, that it seems to be a breach of privilege on the part of the Press to write things about a man—obviously written within the precincts of the House—which are grossly untrue. In order to protect hon. Members all over the House I propose to take advice outside and act on it.