BREAD RATIONING (PETITIONS) (Hansard, 18 July 1946)

§ Sir Waldron Smithers
I beg to present a Petition to the honourable Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. This humble Petition of the undersigned persons resident in Ruislip, Middlesex, showeth: That your petitioners view with grave apprehension the determination to bring into force a bread rationing scheme which is considered unnecessary and unjustified by utterances previously made by the Food Minister. Your petitioners further feel that this ultimate in rationing strikes a cruel blow at the housewives of this country and is, moreover, a very poor and untimely reward for all the suffering "——

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Member must not read out the whole Petition. He must give the heading and say what the petitioners humbly pray.

§ Sir W. Smithers
I am sorry— and devoted toil so willingly given over the past seven years.

§ Mr. Skeffington-Lodge
On a point of Order. In view of the spate of Petitions, which are ill-founded——

§ Mr. Speaker
I told the hon. Gentleman yesterday that whether a Petition is ill-founded or not, the hon. Member is entitled to present it.

§ Mr. Skeffington-Lodge
Further to that point of Order——

§ Mr. Gallacher
On a point of Order. More seriously, Mr. Speaker, I must ask whether there is nothing in the Rules of this House, or in Erskine May, which can put a stop to this dangerous agitation——

§ Mr. Speaker
This House allows free speech.

§ Mr. Gallacher
On a further point of Order——

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Gentleman must resume his seat.

§ Mr. Gallacher
But what is going to happen if we have a hunger strike in Mayfair?

§ Mr. Maude
I beg leave to present to this honourable House two Petitions from certain citizens of the loyal city of Exeter. The material allegations in the first Petition are that the bread rationing will impose unnecessary hardship, particularly on the poorer classes and the aged people, and bring an added burden to the housewife. The petitioners pray this honourable House that means be sought to alleviate the imposition of the rationing of bread, flour and confectionery at the earliest possible moment, and humbly request an assurance that all possible means of relief have been, are being and will continue to be pursued to their utmost limit; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. The second Petition is like unto it.

§ Mr. Gallacher
On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Is there nothing that you can say in connection with these Petitions and the statements outside the House that Members who vote on this question——

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Member is now raising another point of Order——

§ Mr. Skeffington-Lodge
Further to that point of Order——

§ Mr. Speaker
There can be no point of Order about presenting a Petition. Any Member may present a Petition, and that is one of the historical rights of this House. It may seem a nuisance to one side or to the other, but, in spite of that, I will not give way for a moment.

§ Brigadier Low
I beg leave to present to this honourable House a Petition' signed by 11,890 housewives from all parts of Blackpool. The housewives pray that bread shall not be rationed, that there shall be no further food cuts, that the former soap ration shall be restored, and certain other things. Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that this honourable House will be pleased to grant them such relief as to your honourable House may seem fit.

§ Mr. Driberg
On a point of Order. Might I respectfully draw your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the fact that the Petitions at present being presented will prevent the Questions addressed to the Minister of Food from being reached today, and might I ask you to consider extending Question time on days when there are these frivolous and repetitive Petitions?

§ Mr. Cocks
Further to that point of Order. Could not these Petitions be taken as bread?

§ Mr. Speaker
There really can be no points of Order. These Petitions are correctly presented. They may be a nuisance and they may seem to hon. Members to be frivolous, but that is not the point. They are the right of hon. Members, whether they interfere with Question time or not. It is up to hon. Members, and I am going to defend their rights.

§ Viscount Hinchingbrooke
I beg leave to present two Petitions, the first signed by a number of housewives in the borough of Wareham, Dorset: Whereas the rationing of bread inflicts a great hardship on both consumers and distributors, and will involve both wastage and shortage… wherefore your petitioners pray that the bread rationing Order be cancelled with the least possible delay. The second Petition, signed by a large number of housewives in Portland, Dorset, makes the same statement and concludes with the prayer: Wherefore your petitioners pray that further cuts in foodstuffs be not proceeded with and that a public inquiry into the country's food situation be instituted without further delay. And your petitioners, as in duty hound, will ever pray.