HC Deb 07 July 1927 vol 208 cc1614-6

Resolved, That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under Section 10 of The Gas Regulation Act, 1920, on the application of the Mayor, Aldermen, Burgesses of the borough of Tiverton, which was presented on the 23rd May and published, be approved, subject to the following modification:— Clause 4, line 2, substitute the word 'July' for the word 'June'.

Resolved, That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under Section 10 of The Gas Regulation Act, 1920, on the application of the Flint Gas and Water Company, Limited, which was presented on the 24th May and published, be approved.

Resolved, That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under Section 10 of The Gas Regulation Act, 1920, on the application of the Newport Pagnell Gas and Coke Company, Limited, which was presented on the 25th May and published, be approved.

Resolved, That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under Section 10 of The Gas Regulation Act, 1920, on the application of the Cleethorpes Gas Company, which was presented on the 25th May and published, be approved.

Resolved, That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under Section 10 of The Gas Regulation Act, 1920, on the application of the Deal and Walmer Gas Company, which was presented on the 16th June and published. be approved."—(Sir Burton Chadwick.)

Motion made, and Question proposed. That the draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under Section 10 of The Gas Regulation Act, 1920, on the application of the Newquay (Cornwall) Gas Company, Limited, which was presented on the 17th June and published, be approved, subject to the addition of the following Clause:— Saving Rights of Duchy of Cornwall. Nothing in this Order contained shall prejudice or affect any property, rights, powers, authorities, or privileges of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall in right of His Duchy of Cornwall or of the possessor of the Duchy of Cornwall for the time being."—(Sir Burton Chadwick.)

Mr. KIRKWOOD

I want to draw the attention of the House to the last paragraph— Nothing in this Order contained shall prejudice or affect any property, rights, powers, authorities or privileges of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall in right of his Duchy of Cornwall or of the possessor of the Duchy of Cornwall for the time being. I would like to ask, is it not time that we were stopping all this nonsense. I want to ask the question, why there should be special privileges granted to the holder of the Duchy of Cornwall? Why is he specially mentioned here? Why is it that there should be some differential treatment meted out to this individual? I have never met him; I do not know if he is a poor man that he should require this all-powerful institution, the House of Commons, to safeguard his interests. If the House will only turn its attention for the next half-hour while I develop my point, I hope they will see that this individual is under the guise of a name that is not very familiar with the vast majority of the lieges—that is a good word. He is called here the possessor of the Duchy of Cornwall—that is a very nice part of Britain. Cornwall is a very fine part in good weather. I want to know from the Minster who is going to reply to us this morning before we go home to our beds, whatever hour that may be—I cannot tell at the moment—I want to know why this special treatment, because we are led to believe from all sides of this House, Tories, Liberals, yea, even Labour men—are all within this building equal. Then I want to know who this individual is, what he is, where he comes from; if he is a human being, or, if he is a descendant from Mars who has arrived on the scene, that requires special treatment meted out to him.

Notice taken that 40 Members were not present; House counted, and 40 Members not being present—

The House was adjourned at Twenty-nine Minutes after One of the Clock till To-morrow [Friday].