§ Mr. SPEAKERI have to inform the House that I have received a letter from the hon. Member for the Newton Division of Lancaster (Sir Robert Young) announcing his resignation of the office of Chairman of Ways and Means. The letter is as follows:
Chairman of Ways and Means, House of Commons, S.W.1.8th September, 1931.Dear Mr. Speaker,It is my duty to inform the House of Commons through you that a situation has arisen which makes it necessary for me to resign the position of Chairman of Ways and Means.6On 26th August, as a result of the changed political situation, I wrote a letter to my constituency and said:'The Chairman of Ways and Means is appointed for the duration of Parliament. It is, however, a Party nomination but subject to the approval of the House of Commons. I was appointed by unanimous consent. Nevertheless should the Prime Minister on the one side, or the Labour party on the other side, think I should resign I shall certainly do so.'I sent a copy of the letter to the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and to the executive of the Amalgamated Engineering Union. The Prime Minister did not ask me to resign. My trade union executive, however, expressed the opinion that I should tender my resignation and with, that opinion, I understand, many Members of the party to which I belong, agree. That being so I feel, and I am sure the House will sympathise with my feeling, that were I to remain Chairman my position would be uncomfortable, invidious, and untenable. I therefore humbly tender my resignation to the House.I have endeavoured to discharge my duties during the past two years fairly and without political bias. I have been conscious of many imperfections, but these the Members of the House have generously overlooked.I desire to thank the Prime Minister for the honour he did me in proposing me in 1929 as Chairman. I also offer my thanks to his colleagues in the late Government for their kindness and consideration, to the Conservative and Liberal Leaders for their forbearance, patience, and restraint in time of difficulty and strain for the Chair, and to the Members in all parties for their good will and courtesy.I recognise the ready help the officials of the House have always given me. They have eased my task. I am much indebted to them. To you, Mr. Speaker, my sincerest thanks are due. Your kindness and helpfulness to me during the past two years will ever be in remembrance a source of happiness to me.I have the honour to be,Dear Mr. Speaker,Yours respectfully',ROBERT YOUNG.
§ Sir BASIL PETOrose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have to inform the House that I have received a letter from the hon. Member for the Consett Division of Durham (Mr. Dunnico) informing me of his resignation of the office of Deputy-Chairman of Ways and Means. The following is the letter: 7
Captain Right Hon. E. A. Fitzroy,The Speaker,House of Commons.8th September, 1931.Dear Mr. Speaker,Two years age, with the approval of all parts of the House, I was elected Deputy-Chairman of Ways and Means.I am now informed that the Opposition party has withdrawn that approval.The duties of the Chair are difficult, exacting, and arduous even when they are exercised with the consent and support of all parties. In the absence of that general support the duties of the office could not be performed satisfactorily.I must, therefore, humbly ask you to tender to the House my resignation of the office to which I was appointed. May I be permitted to express my sincere gratitude to Hon. Members for the unfailing courtesy shown, and the support given, to me during my period of office and to assure them that I have tried, however ineffective my efforts may have been, to maintain the honourable traditions associated with the Chair.The many personal kindnesses shown to mo by you, Mr. Speaker, and by the officials of the House, I shall always remember with grateful appreciation.I have the honour to remain,Yours sincerely,HERBERT RIINNICO.
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)I beg to move, "That Sir Dennis Henry Herbert be the Chairman of Ways and Means."
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAOn a point of Order. With reference to the first letter you read, Mr. Speaker, from an hon. Member to whom we are all very much indebted, will any steps be taken to secure that hon. Members accepting office in the service of this House shall in future be responsible to this House and not to outside bodies?
§ Sir B. PETOWould it be in order to move that this House do not receive the first of those letters of resignation, in view of the reason for the resignation that is alleged—[HON. MEMBERS: "What about the bankers?"]—namely, that a certain body unconnected with this House has intervened? [Interruption.] The hon. Member was elected for the duration of this Parliament, and therefore only Parliament can relieve the hon. Member of the duties he has undertaken. Should I be in order in moving that the House do not accept the resignation?
§ Mr. SPEAKERNo. I have received the resignations of the two hon. Members and I have read them to the House. As far as that goes, that ends the matter. The Prime Minister has now moved the appointment of Sir Dennis Herbert.
§ Question, "That Sir Dennis Henry Herbert be the Chairman of Ways and Means," put, and agreed to.