§ 17. Mr. MAGNAYasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the action of the Gateshead Labour party in opposing the decision of the Mayor of Gateshead to agree to the public use of a road, belonging to the corporation, leading to the grounds of Ravens-worth Castle, where the military tattoo was held; and, if so, what action does he propose to take?
Mr. COOPERI have, no information beyond what has appeared in the public Press, to the effect that during his absence from the city the Gateshead branch 228 of the Labour party expelled from membership the Mayor of Gateshead for the alleged offence of failing to oppose a proposal which would facilitate the passage of visitors to the Northern Command Tattoo at Ravensworth. There is no action that I can usefully take in the matter, and I can only express regret that the Labour party should carry their hostility to the forces of the Crown to such extreme lengths.