§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (LORD MOYNE)My Lords, it is fitting that our proceedings should begin to-day with a reference to one who in his day was Leader of your Lordships' House. Lord Parmoor has died at the ripe age of 88, after a career of great distinction both at the bar and in Parliament. Others are much better qualified than I am to deal with his legal attainments. I remember him first when I was a young member in the House of Commons. In those days he was always listened to with very great respect and attention, on matters affecting the Church in particular. He had, indeed, a very varied political career and owed allegiance in turn to two great Parties, because to him Parties always counted much less than principles. His most distinguished service was as Lord President of the Council and Leader of your Lordships' House, first in the Government of 1924 and again from 1929 to 1931, at the very-end of a long life of distinguished public service.
He was a convinced and ardent supporter of the League of Nations and, as chief British representative at the meeting 599 in 1924, he took part in the adoption by the Assembly at Geneva of the Protocol which he had done so much to advocate in the Press and on the platform. When we remember the frail figure which was familiar to us, your Lordships may be surprised to learn that when at Oxford he gained his Blue for Association football when that game was certainly no gentler than it is to-day, and his fragile and gentle manner did not prevent him from being a very vehement debater. He had an exceptionally brilliant brain, and a wonderful record of Firsts in his University career. I am sure your Lordships will wish to join with me in expressing sympathy with Lady Parmoor and his family, and not least with his distinguished son who is now bearing the heavy burdens and responsibilities which attach to the British Ambassador in Moscow.
§ LORD ADDISONMy Lords, I should like to associate myself very sincerely with what the noble Lord has said with regard to the late Lord Parmoor. My recollections, like his, go back many years to another place. My earliest recollection is that on the side of the Government in those days we had to be on the alert when Cripps got up from the Front Opposition Bench and proposed to criticise the Government. I well remember the long and ingenious fights for which, perhaps, he was largely responsible over the National Health Insurance Bill and other measures of that kind. Afterwards it was my honour to be his colleague in the Government of 1929–31. I should like to associate myself with what the noble Lord has said regarding his acumen and alertness, notwithstanding his advancing years, and his loyalty to principles, which he put before anything else in life. He has died full of honour and at a ripe age, and in that respect he is to be envied by all.
§ VISCOUNT SAMUELMy Lords, we on these Benches desire to associate ourselves with what has been said by the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition. Lord Parmoor has died full of years, leaving behind him a long record of service in many fields. He combined brilliant legal attainments with high conscientiousness in international politics and in the affairs of Church and State, and I join with the previous 600 speakers in expressing our sympathy with his distinguished son and with the other members of his family.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, perhaps your Lordships will allow me to say one word because I have served for so many years in your Lordships' House and for many years as a colleague, not on the same side of the House, but as a brother Peer in Lord Parmoor's time. I also had an opportunity of seeing his work outside the House, for he was deeply engaged in ecclesiastical matters with which at that time I was closely connected. I do not think a more devoted and industrious man ever lived. He worked magnificently in all the causes which he undertook, and as an ecclesiastical statesman he was very prominent. Besides that, I perhaps ought to mention, because I know, he had to perform what is probably the most difficult of all parts in your Lordships' House—that is to say, he led the House when he was followed by a very small minority. It is not so difficult to lead even your Lordships' House if you have a devoted band of followers who are willing to see you through. Lord Parmoor had to manage with a very small body of men supporting him, and it is immensely to his credit that he performed his functions so well. We shall all deeply regret his passing away. I am very glad that the Leader of the House has said what he has said, and has extended the sympathy of the House to Lady Parmoor and the members of the family.