§ 4.19 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT DILHORNEMy Lords, I hope your Lordships will permit me to mention a matter which has come to my notice in the last few minutes. It is sad news for the Members of this House. It is the death of a great friend of a great many of us in all parts of the House—Charles Hobson. I think we all, wherever we sit, respected his great integrity and his great common sense, even though we may have disagreed with him on occasions politically. I first made his acquaintance when we were both Members of another 1169 place, and since then I have always valued his friendship, as so many have in this House, irrespective of their political views. I hope that your Lordships will not think it inappropriate of me to mention this now, and to express what I am sure is the desire of the House as a whole, our great sympathy with his family and his relations in the loss that they have suffered.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I should be grateful if the noble and learned Viscount would allow me, on behalf of the Government, and indeed myself, to be associated with the observations which he has made. Lord Hobson had had the advantage of some fifteen years of local government experience, and then spent almost fifteen years in the other place before coming to this House some three years ago. I know to what extent he has endeared himself to Members in all parts of your Lordships' House. Both the Government and his many friends in all parts are deeply grieved at his sudden death. I should like also to join in extending to his widow and family our deep sympathy.
§ Loan WADEMy Lords, on behalf of my Liberal colleagues and myself. I should like to add my tribute. I had the pleasure of knowing Lord Hobson for a number of years in another place, and I had the privilege of serving with him on a number of Committees. I always appreciated his great sincerity and his forthrightness. He had a fine record of public service, and he will be greatly missed.