§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (EARL STANHOPE)My Lords, I have to acquaint the House that His Majesty has been pleased to create the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Walker Hobart Inskip, Knight, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, a Peer of this Realm, by the title of Viscount Caldecote, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, with remainder to the heirs male of his body.
His Lordship, having retired to robe—Was (in the usual manner) introduced.
§ The LORD CHANCELLOR then resumed his seat on the Woolsack.
§ 3.19 p.m.
§ LORD SNELLMy Lords, before we begin the business which is on the Order Paper of to-day, I ask your permission to say a few words on the changes of Ministers so far as they affect your Lordships' House. First of all, with your Lordships' permission, I would like to say a word as to the retiring Lord Chancellor, Lord Maugham, and to say, I am sure on behalf of all your Lordships but especially on behalf of my noble friends, with very great sincerity, how greatly we have appreciated his courtesy and his helpfulness to us in our work. I fear there have been times when we have caused him some anxiety, and possibly resentment. Accustomed to the measured language and the emotionless restraint of the Courts, our more mobile and searching phraseology in this place perhaps caused him some distress. But we have worked together with great friendliness and we thank him for all the help that he has given to us and express the hope that he will have pleasant memories of his association with us in this House.
It is a very special pleasure to me to welcome as Lord Chancellor Viscount Caldecote, and to congratulate him on assuming the very high office to which he has been called. An old colleague in 1004 another place, a strenuous opponent but an unwavering friend, we have fought many battles, those of us who were his colleagues—I, especially—in another place. He always brought great weight to bear on the argument which passed between us. I wish to assure him that, so far as it is consistent with our duty and our responsibility here, we shall give to him all the co-operation and assistance that we possibly can. We wish him very great happiness in his new responsibilities.
§ 3.22 p.m.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWEMy Lords, may I be allowed to add a word to what has fallen from the noble Lord, Lord Snell? I will not attempt to enumerate all the noble and learned Lords who have sat on the Woolsack since I had the honour of a seat in your Lordships' House. They would run well into double figures and I have never ceased to admire the dignity and the eloquence with which they have filled that most important office. I think it is a most fortunate matter for His Majesty's Government that in the appointment by His Majesty of Lord Caldecote to the office of Lord Chancellor, they get the benefit at this moment, when the Navy is in all our thoughts, of his vast, almost unrivalled, experience in matters connected with the Navy; and it is evident to us all that in those matters both his care and his counsel will be of value. I would also like to join the noble Lord, Lord Snell, in assuring your Lordships of the respect we have all felt for the noble and learned Lord, Lord Maugham, during his term of office, and His Majesty's Government are again to be congratulated on still having the benefit of his vast experience and his incomparable legal acumen. Like the noble Lord, I wish the noble and learned Viscount on the Woolsack every possible prosperity in his office.
§ 3.25 p.m.
THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURYMy Lords, may I, in one sentence, associate myself, representing the Spiritual Peers, with what has been said with his wonted felicity by the noble Lord, Lord Snell, and with what has fallen from the noble Marquess? It is a very special pleasure to me that we 1005 have on the Woolsack not only a distinguished lawyer and a very able administrator, but, if I may say so, a much valued personal friend.
§ 3.26 p.m.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT CALDECOTE)My Lords, words would be inadequate to express my gratitude to the noble Lord, the noble Marquess, the most reverend Primate and to your Lordships on this occasion. I desire to thank the noble Lord, the noble Marquess and the most reverend Primate for their most generous words. Encouraged by them, I hope I may have wisdom to discharge my duties and, although I know that I shall often need the forbearance and indulgence of your Lordships, I submit myself to the service of your Lordships' House.
§ 3.27 p.m.
§ LORD MAUGHAMMy Lords, I am deeply grateful for and touched by the remarks which have fallen from the noble Lord, the noble Marquess and the most reverend Primate. With regard to them, so far as I am concerned, I must say that I am merely conscious of having done my duty so far as it was within my power. Nevertheless, I shall long remember with gratitude the observations to which I have referred, and I will add this, that I shall never forget the uniform courtesy and kindness with which your Lordships have treated me during my time on the Woolsack, and also the fact that my shortcominngs have always been treated with a blind eye. I thank your Lordships very deeply.