MINISTERS ATTACKED

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 254, 10 July 1926, Page 9

MINISTERS ATTACKED

MR. CHAMBERLAIN THIRD OF SERIES CONNECTION WITH BUSINESS FIRMS AN INAPPLICABLE RULE Mr. Neville Chamberlain is tne third British Minister who has been attacked on the ground of his connection with a business firm. He told the House or Commons that he understood that someone had employed experts to search official files for something that could be used to discredit Ministers. TELEGBAPH.I—PRESS association, copyright. (Rec. July 9, B.W p.m.) London, July 8. In reply to a question in the House cf Commons, the Prime Minister (Mr. Baldwin) admitted that Mr. Neville Chamberlain (Minister of Health) was still a director of Hoskins and Sons, Birmingham, but said that it was a private concern, and therefore not affected bv the rule requiring Ministers to resign di rectorships when thev assumed office. Mr. Chamberlain, ir a personal statement said that he understood that someone had employed experts to search official records to see if anything could be used to discredit Ministers. He was the third Minister who had. been attacked. He said that the House had debated rule 1900 when Mr. Llovd George quoted the same company in his amendment to the Ad-dress-in-Renlv, which was defeated by a large majority. The House had never laid it down that a Minister should not hold shares in a company which might from time to time have contracts with the Government. He had not taken an active part for vears in the comnanv s administration. He was really a trustee for family interests. He did not know of anv Government contract?. but when he was actively concerned with the business it mostly concerned shipbuilding. So far as he knew, there had been no change since. If there were any Government contracts they were very trifling , ~ Mr Baldwin said that he would give a dav to discussion of the matter, upon which Mr. A. Henderson (Labour) promised to table a motion.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. .