§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD SANKEY)My Lords, I have to acquaint the House that His Majesty has been pleased to appoint, by His Letters Patent dated the 3rd day of March, Sir Edward Hall Alderson, K.B.E., C.B., to the Office of Clerk of the Parliaments, vacant by the resignation of Sir Arthur Theodore Thring, K.C.B., the late Clerk of the Parliaments.
Patent read; and the said Sir Edward Hall Alderson, K.B.E., C.B., then made the prescribed declaration (which declaration is set down in the Roll amongst the oaths of the great officers), and took his seat at the Table.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (LORD PARMOOR)My Lords, only the other day we were bidding farewell to Sir Arthur Thring as Clerk of the Parliaments with gratitude for the work he had done for us and giving him all good wishes for the future. To-day I think we should all like to express formally our congratulations to Sir Edward Alderson on the high post to which His Majesty has appointed him. There are two matters which I think we shall all have in mind. The first is the courtesy with which Sir Edward Alderson has always met us in all matters of inquiry or doubt on questions of practice; and he has given us all possible assistance in that way. Secondly, we know from experience, and that to my mind is a very important point, that in cases of difficulty he has all the knowledge and experience of (I think) thirty years at the Table with which, on questions of the Standing Orders and of debate in your Lordships' House, he can direct us. Therefore, in the name of your Lordships I should like to give him our hearty congratulations.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I should like to be allowed to add my congratulations to those offered by 743 your Lordships to Sir Edward Alderson. I should also like to congratulate the House on having obtained a worthy successor to its late Clerk of the Parliaments.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LONDONDERRYMy Lords, in the regrettable absence of the noble Marquess who leads the Opposition, on behalf of myself and of others who sit on this side of the House I desire to associate myself with the happy remarks which have fallen from the noble and learned Lord the Leader of the House. I am sure there is not one of us in this House, whether he has been in an official position or that of a private Member, who has not been in some way or other the recipient of the co-operation and assistance of Sir Edward Alderson. I am sure that I am voicing the wishes of everyone sitting on this side of your Lordships' House when I offer him every congratulation on the position he occupies at the present moment.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPMy Lords, I should like to associate my noble friends and myself with what has been so happily said by the noble and learned Lord and the noble Marquess. It is, I am sure, a matter of great satisfaction to us all that so familiar a figure in this House has now been promoted to the chief dignity at the Table. Sir Edward Alderson is well acquainted with the manners and customs of this House, and I doubt whether anybody knows more about them than he does. He is a mine of information upon these subjects, and I am sure he will do everything in his power to maintain those customs and traditions. May I in a more personal note say what a pleasure it is to me to see so old a friend of mine occupying this position. I have known for many years now how very ready he is to help any members of your Lordships' House, and I hope that we may see him sitting in that chair for many years to come.