RESIGNATION OF THE CLERK OF THE PARLIAMENTS. (Hansard, 27 February 1930)

§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (LORD PARMOOR)
My Lords, you will recollect that yesterday the Lord Chancellor read a letter from Sir Arthur Thring announcing the termination of his office as Clerk of the Parliaments. We shall all regret losing Sir Arthur Thring as Clerk of the Parliaments. We shall regret it particularly because he mentions one of the causes as being his serious illness. I am glad to be able to tell your Lordships that the latest information which I obtained to-day is favourable regarding his illness, which undoubtedly has been a very serious and troublesome one.
The Clerk of the Parliaments is a very important officer in the service of the House of Lords. He guides us in all matters affecting our Standing Orders and rules of procedure. It is the more important that his guidance should be safe because the rates of debate and the Standing Orders are so very indefinite that in substance a great deal is left on both these matters to the House itself. In addition, the Clerk of the Parliaments is Registrar of this House sitting as the Final Court of Appeal in all legal matters in this country. Sir Arthur Thring has been in the service of the House since the year 1917 when he succeeded one who is well known still to many members, Sir Henry Graham. Previously to that he had been for ten years First Parliamentary Counsel—that is, leading draftsman—for a year before that, in 1902, he was the Second Parliamentary Counsel, and for several years before that he worked in the draftsman's office. Almost he had a hereditary position there, because his uncle, who was Lord Thring, was so long associated with that office. I think we can reciprocate very much Sir Arthur Thring's expressions of regret at being no longer able to meet us in this House. I am sure we all feel that it is a loss, almost a personal loss, to us that Sir Arthur Thring should feel called upon to terminate his services after a period of about twelve years. I beg to propose the following Resolution:—

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD SANKEY)
My Lords, to the public tribute which has been so fittingly paid by the noble Lord the Leader of the House to Sir Arthur Thring let me add my personal thanks and obligations. During the years of his distinguished services to this House your Lordships have had many opportunities of observing and appreciating his great knowledge and his unfailing courtesy. I am a new member who, corning here without political experience and without having had a seat in another place, was called upon to preside over this House of Parliament within a few minutes of entering it for the first time. That I was able to do so at all was due to the kindness and the coaching which I received from Sir Arthur Thring. No doubt it has been apparent to your Lordships from time to time that I have not always remembered his coaching; but I shall never forget his kindness. Let me join with your Lordships in hoping that he may have many happy and useful years still in store; and let me assure him that he carries into his retirement the thanks and good wishes of a grateful Lord Chancellor.

§ THE MARQUESS OF LONDONDERRY
My Lords, in the absence of my noble friend who habitually leads the Opposition in your Lordships' House (the Marquess of Salisbury) I desire on behalf of my friends to associate myself with the words which have fallen from the noble and learned Lord who leads this House, and the noble and learned Lord Chancellor. I feel that there really is nothing that I can add to what they have already said. The noble Lord, Lord Parmoor, has alluded in very fitting language to the 739 serious illness of which Sir Arthur Thring has been the victim. I can assure him that we all join with him in wishing Sir Arthur Thring a speedy and complete recovery. Your Lordships will no doubt be aware that Sir Arthur Thring has spent a very strenuous time in the service of this House—more strenuous when he first took on these duties, now some thirteen years ago, although his connection with this House is of a much longer duration than the last thirteen years. I feel, as I have said, that I can add nothing to what has already been so well said, but I am quite sure that the good wishes of your Lordships will follow Sir Arthur Thring into his retirement, and I am sure also that it is our earnest desire that he will be able for many years to come to enjoy his well-merited leisure. I beg to associate myself with the Resolution.

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
My Lords, it is not a usual thing to allow a maiden speech in this House to pass unnoticed, and I hope your Lordships will allow me to congratulate the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack upon the fact that he has at last broken silence, and to say that I am sure he never did so more sincerely than on this occasion. I hope now that the ice has been broken he will more often join in our discussions, to which I am sure he will contribute with great advantage.
Now I turn to the subject of the Resolution before your Lordships' House, and would wish to associate myself and my friends cordially with the Resolution. Nothing too much has been said in praise of the way in which Sir Arthur Thring has discharged his duties. He has always been accessible, he has always been patient, and he has always been ready to place his knowledge at the disposal of every member of your Lordships' House. I am very glad that it should fall to me to be able to say so much in his praise. He has invariably been ready to do all he can to assist even the most humble member of your Lordships' House in the intricacies whether of debate or of procedure. I should like to say, too, that we all are glad to think that his predecessor, Sir Henry Graham, is enjoying a well earned and honourable retirement, and his friends are always delighted to see him. He was appointed no less than forty-five 740 years ago, and his retirement, as your Lordships know, was thirteen years ago. Let us hope Sir Arthur Thring may have as long and as happy and as honourable a retirement as his predecessor has had. In any case, I am sure he will be pleased to know with what unanimity and with what heartiness we wish him every possible happiness during the years of his retirement.

THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY
My Lords, perhaps I may add one word to those already spoken so fittingly about the letter we received from the Clerk of the Parliaments. I may speak on behalf of the Spiritual Peers in this House, and I am sure they would wish me to say how much we owe to the kindness and courtesy of which we are now to be deprived so far as this House is concerned. The Bishops are perhaps more diffident and embarrassed about Parliamentary forms than many of your Lordships, and we have always found that we have received from him who has announced his intention of retiring the greatest possible patience, guidance and assistance, and we shall miss his familiar presence at the Table. I share the sense of loss which has been so admirably expressed in the departure from our House of one who has served it with so much distinction, ability and courtesy for so many years.

§ LORD PARMOOR
My Lords, I now beg to move that the Lord Chancellor do communicate the said Resolution to Sir Arthur Theodore Thring, K.C.B.

§ LORD PARMOOR
My Lords, I beg to move that an humble Address be presented to His Majesty laying before His Majesty a copy of the letter of the said Sir Arthur Theodore Thring, K.C.B., and likewise of the Resolution of this House, and recommending the said Sir Arthur Theodore Thring to His Majesty's Royal Grace and Bounty.