THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. (Hansard, 16 February 1905)

§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of LANSDOWNE)

My Lords, at the beginning of last session it was my painful duty to announce to the House that the Chairman of Committees, Lord Morley, was prevented by serious indisposition from assuming the duties of his post. I know that the announcement was received with genuine concern in all parts of the House, and that we all of us hoped that with rest and care Lord Morley"s health would be restored, and that we should again see him at his place at this Table. In the meanwhile, the duties of Chairman were undertaken by my noble friend, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, to whom I think the House owes a great debt of gratitude, and in whose hands the Private Bill business of the House has proceeded without interruption and without detriment.

I deeply regret to inform your Lordships that I have now heard from Lord Morley that the condition of his health is such as to make it, in his opinion, impossible that he should retain the 287 Chairmanship of our Committees. He writes to me in these words— My resignation, which I gave you at the end of last session, must, therefore, now take effect. In announcing it I should be much obliged if you would, on my behalf, thank the House for the extreme indulgence and consideration which they have shown to me during my long illness, and also if you would express to noble Lords on both sides of the House my grateful appreciation of the support which they have invariably given me in discharging the duties of the Chairmanship for the last sixteen years. Without the assurance of such support the Chairman"s position would be a very difficult one. My Lords, I can add nothing to those simple words. In every relation of life Lord Morley has known how to gain the respect and the affection of those with whom he was brought in contact, and I think I may say that this House could not have had a more admirable Chairman of Committees. Besides great diligence and ability, Lord Morley has shown qualities of firmness, great powers of conciliation, and a sound and steady judgment unswayed by considerations of personal popularity. I believe he has performed his duties with the universal approval of all those concerned in the Private Bill business of the House, and I may venture to add that when he has acted as Chairman of Committees of the Whole House we have always obtained from him that guidance which we had a right to expect from him, and which he was so well able to afford to our deliberations. Lord Morley"s retirement is indeed an irreparable misfortune to this House.

We have now to consider the question of appointing a successor to him. I do not think I shall be contradicted when I say that if Lord Balfour of Burleigh had consented to retain the Chairmanship his decision would have been received with acclamation in all parts of the House. But he has reasons, the force of which cannot be gainsaid, for not adopting that course. And before I leave Lord Balfour of Burleigh, let me say that I have every reason for believing that his successor will find the Private Bill business of the House in perfect order, and that everything will have been made as easy for him as was possible before his assumption of his new duties. Now, my Lords, I need not say that the appointment of Chairman is not a piece of 288 Government patronage. It lies with the Whole House. That is the more indisputable, because on the last two occasions on which the Chairmanship had to be filled, another Peer was preferred to the nominee of the then Government, and for all I know, noble Lords opposite may desire to propose some candidate of their own. But, so far as we are concerned, I may say that, having considered the matter, and having, if I may venture so to put it, turned our searchlight, not only on this Bench, but on all parts of the House, we are unable to suggest to your Lordships any better fitted candidate than our noble friend and colleague Lord Onslow.

It would be almost an impertinence if I were to delay your Lordships with a description of the duties and responsibilities which belong to the Chairman of Committees, and it would be almost equally superfluous if I were to state at length why it is we consider that Lord Onslow is eminently well fitted to perform those duties. I will only venture to remind your Lordships that he has been for twenty-seven years a Member of this House, and that during that time he has held several important offices. He has been Secretary to the Board of Trade; he has been twice Under-Secretary for the Colonies, and on one of those occasions during the Secretary of State"s absence, he undertook for a time the main burden of colonial affairs. He has held the post of Governor of New Zealand, which he filled with great distinction and much popularity, and he has for two years been a member of the present Government. I may, perhaps, add in addition that he was for some time a member of the London County Council, and took a diligent part in its proceedings. My Lords, we venture to submit Lord Onslow"s name as a successor to Lord Morley, and we do so with a feeling of confidence that if your Lordships are pleased to appoint him to this post he will maintain the traditions of the office, that he is likely to secure the confidence of those who are interested in our Private Bill legislation, that he will worthily uphold the dignity and reputation of this House, and that he will receive from your Lordships that measure of support without which, as 289 Lord Morley truly said, no Chairman of Committees can adequately perform his task.

Moved, That the Earl of Onslow be appointed to take the Chair in all Committees of this House for this session.

That the Earl of Onslow do take the Chair in all Committees of the Whole House unless where it shall have been otherwise directed by the House.

That the Earl of Onslow do also take the Chair in all Committees upon Private Bills and other matters, unless where it shall have been otherwise directed by the House.—(The Marquess of Lansdowne.)

§ EARL SPENCER

My Lords, I rise at once to associate myself with the eloquent tribute which the noble Marquess has just paid to Lord Morley, and to say how very deeply we on this side of the House regret that the state of his health will not permit him to resume those duties which he has carried out with such ability and distinction and to the satisfaction of the whole House. I remember Lord Morley from the moment he first came to your Lordships" House. He has always been a personal friend for whom I have entertained the greatest affection. We also deplore the fact that Lord Balfour of Burleigh cannot see his way to continue the duties which he performed with such dignity and success last session. It is not for us to inquire the reason. The noble Marquess has mentioned that this is not a Government appointment, but one which lies with the whole House, and he referred to the fact that on the occasion of Lord Morley"s election Lord Salisbury had recommended another Peer for the Chairmanship. It is rather satisfactory now to find that both the choice of the House on that occasion and the choice of Lord Salisbury have been confirmed, because the Peer whom Lord Morley, I will not say defeated, but took precedence of, on that occasion was my noble friend Lord Balfour of Burleigh, who so ably performed the duties last session.

I need not go into the importance of the duties of Chairman. They require all the qualities which the noble Marquess has described as having been possessed by Lord Morley and Lord Balfour of 290 Burleigh. I rejoice to think that one we know so well, and who has held such high office, is now proposed by the noble Marquess to fill this post. I presume that Lord Onslow will no longer continue a member of His Majesty"s Government as Minister for Agriculture and a member of the Cabinet. I only mention that because the noble Marquess did not refer to it, but I presume it would be impossible for anybody filling high office in His Majesty"s Government to occupy this position in your Lordships' House. We on this side, if we desired it, would have really no power to affect the issue on this question, but on this occasion we will certainly cheerfully and cordially accept the proposal of the noble Marquess, and I hope that my noble friend Lord Onslow will long fulfil the responsible duties attaching to the post.