A LETTER FROM LONDON

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 85, 4 January 1930, Page 11

A LETTER FROM LONDON

THE PASSING OF “T.P.”-NEW FATHER OF THE HOUSE

ITALIAN BOXING GIANT

Dominion Special Service.

London, November 21. The House of Commons will miss “T.P.” . Although Mr. O’Connor has only been once to Westminster during the present Parliament for the purpose of taking the oath, it is only comparatively recently that he has been laid aside, and to a very large number of members it will be a strange thing to think that he will never more be . seen in the corner seat on the second bench below the gangway. Technically, prescriptive rights to seats are not recognised by the House, but in practice such rights grow up, and the House does not countenance any attempt to upset an established claim to some particular seat. It would have certainly resented any attempt to oust Mr. T. P. O’Connor from the seat which had become his.' But “T.P.” was well able to look after himself. He tolerated no nonsense. A majestic wave of the hand was generally sufficient to drive off the intruder, but if necessary “T.P.” was ready for stronger measures. He found one day that a member had staked out a claim on his seat by leaving his hat and a number of papers on the sacred spot. Without a second’s hesitation Mr. O’Connor sat down on the lot. He was not a light: weight, and he reduced the hat to the condition of the papers. The intruder did not venture to complain. The New “Father of the House.” Although a great Parliamentarian, “T.P.” was never very prominent in debate. Throughout his long career he was always the journalist quite as much as the M.P. His knowledge, however, of tlie moods and thought of the House under widely varying conditions was great, and his advice was eagerly sought by young members. That advice was always forthcoming, and it was seasoned with wit and wisdom. Rather to the surprise of the House, Mr. Lloyd George becomes its “Father.” That proud distinction has nothing to do with years, but only with uninterrupted tenure—not necessarily as representative of the same constituency. Since he entered the House for Carnarvon Boroughs, Mr. Lloyd George has never been “in the wilderness,” but he has sat for the same seat all the time. The runner-up is Sir Austen Chamberlain, who also has never been “in the wilderness,” but has changed his seat. When his father died it seemed only natural that he should transfer himself t,o West Birmingham, with which Joseph Chamberlain had had such a long and’ unbroken association. Women ftl.P’s. as Debaters. There could be no greater contrast between the debating styles of any two- members of the House of . Commons than between the methods of Lady Astor and Miss Rathbone. The contrast was marked in the discussion this week on a Conservative amendment to the Widows’ Pensions Bill—an .amendment designed to limit the new class of beneficiaries at the age of 55 to “necessitous” widows, a necessitous person being one with an income of less than £250. Lady Astor was not only as sprightly as, usual, but as discursive iu her comments on pensionable widows who might have inherited a fortune and her plea for poor women who could get nothing. Seldom is a member so often called to order for irrelevancy. “I am a simple woman,” Lady Astor exclaimed when told from the Treasury Bench that she did not understand the Bill, but by her pertinacity she sorely tried the chairman of committee, while she amused the House. Miss Rathbone, who spoke from the far end of an Opposition bench, was, on the other hand, concise, pointed, and direct in style. According to Mr. Greenwood, the amendment, which was ultimately rejected, would involve the periodical examination of half a million widows, with the probable exclusion of only one per cent. The force of this objection was admitted by Miss Rathbone, who had found means tests both unpopular and demoralising, but she thought that if the income tax limit could be adopted it-would be an easy automatic definition. This thought she presented in a lucid, helpful way. There was a third lady in the discussion. The style of Miss Susan Lawrence, the Minister in charge of the Bill, was professional. As she gave a lecture on the administratiye impossibility of a limit she leaned over the box, rubbing her hands and patting the palm of the left hand with the right. Miss Lawrence is rather too didactic in style, and if she wants to get the favourable attention of the House she must cease to lecture it. The Little Season. Once again the little season is proving a close rival of its official predecessor in brilliance. The social calendar is as full as it was in May, but there is a difference in the nature of the functions. Their Majesties’ presence in town has given a considerable fillip to things generally, and' at the present moment, with the arrival of the Queen of Spain, and her daughters, social activity has reached a climax seldom surpassed even in the seasuii proper, iu spite of the fact that many London hostesses are in the country entertaining shooting parties. The little season has always had a special charm of its own for those who share iu its activity—namely,-the peculiarly English atmosphere which is created. American and other foreign hostesses, who like to play a part in London’s real season, prefer to spend the autumn in their own country, and it is left to English hostesses to sponsor little season gaiety and the host of charitable functions which are so much a part of it. Three of the Royal Princes, the Prince of Wales, the Duke ef York, and the Duke of Gloucester, are accepting several daily engagements, and all three are dining out a great deal. The Prince of Wales appeared at the historic hall of tne Middle Temple-one evening this week to dine with the benchers and the barristers of the'inn where he is privileged to wear the long gown of a Master Bencher. He is always delighted with the atmosphere of the hall in which Queen Elizabeth witnessed “Twelfth Night,” and takes a great .interest _ in the ancient ceremonies, oue of which is the handing round of the loving cup with that mysterious drink the ingredients of which only the Middle Temple cellar-keeper knows. The Duke of Gloucester, who of all the four sons of the King most resembles His Majesty, deputised for*’ his brother,

Prince George, at the Printers' Pension Banquet, and enjoyed the occasion a* much as anybody. Our Fallen Heroes. The Imperial War Graves Commission announced this week that there are nearly a thousand cemeteries stretched across France and Belgium, as well as more than 1500 French communal cemeteries and churchyards in which some of the British dead are buried. There are a cemetery at Vevey, in Switzerland, 93 in Italy, 21 in Macedonia, 31 in the Gallipoli Peninsula, 2 in Syria, 40 in Palestine, 5 in Egypt, as well as cemeteries .in India, China, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, and there are 50 other countries where British war graves may be found. It is, however, not generally realised that in the United Kingdom there are more than 67,000 graves in more than 5000 churchyards and cemeteries. Not all of these are cared for with the same attention as the cemeteries in France, which are bright with flowers, and contain the impressive Stone of Remembrance and Cross of Sacrifice. For example, in the Hampstead Public Cemetery there may be found a small plot of ground in which 108 men have been buried, but not in separate graves. Their names are given on the surrounding wall, and the plot is disfigured by eight blocks of stone marked with alphabetical letters A to G. There are a few artificial flowers in glass bowls, but no plants or rose trees such as beautify the war cemeteries abroad. The Hampstead Borough Council cuts the grass, but cannot take any steps to make this spot more beautiful without the permission of the Imperial War Graves Commission, and this body, which’has done such wonderful worli all the world over, has not yet apparently taken this matter in hand. A New Heavyweight Boxer. Boxing in this country has been un« der a cloud for some years past, especially as regards the heavyweights. But the public interest in the “big men” is as keen as ever, as is shown by the amazing popularity of Primo Carnera, a genial Italian of massive proportions who is seeking fame as a boxer. As yet untutored, but possessing a giant’s strength, Carnera recently beat one of our own heavyweights in easy fashion, and this week met an American, Young Stribling, who is one of the most experienced boxers in the world. This match excited extraordinary interest; every detail of the men’s training, what they said, and what an enterprising reporter would imagine them to say, were chronicled at length in the Press, which gave the story prominence in the main news pages. The fact that the contest was arranged by an American promoter who has been refused a license by the British Boxing Board of Control, made not the slightest difference, for the Albert Hall was packed to the doors, and the Prince of Wales lent his patronage. But once again a heavyweight contest ended in a disappointment. After Stribling had outboxed his ppponent in the first three rounds, he knocked him off his feet, only, for Carnera to rise and return the compliment. The fourth round was a series of clinches, until the American was disqualified for hitting low.' Opinion generally supports tlie decision, but both men are eager to renew the match, which next time may be decided in Paris. As Carnera is reported to have received £2OOO, and his opponent half that amount, we may be sure that they will be well content to box on as many occasions as the public will put up the money. Carnera may one day become a world’s champion, but at present he is merely a fighter, and has no boxing skill. An Air Derby. f Few events arouse such intense and widespread interest as a speed contest, and in the belief that the “air sense” of the nation is now sufficiently developed, the Royal Aero Club propose to institute an air Derby. A Short series of races bearing this title was held for a few years, but was discontinued in 1923, when a speed of 192 miles an hour was achieved by Mr. Larry Carter over a. 200-mile course. Iu subsequent years, entries were lacking, but it is now proposed to reorganise the event with an extended course of a thousand miles, the race to, be flown concurrently .with the King’s' Cup contest round Britain. In the past the race has been a speed event usually flown on a circular course, with Loudon as centre. Almost all high speed aircraft now belongs to the Air Force,, so that there is snilill opportunity for private individuals to enter machines. If the race remains an unlimited event, there is little chance of a good field. The powerful and expensive engines which are needed for the high speeds which are attained nowadays are far beyond the reaoh of private individuals both in first' cost and in running cost. The best course might be for the Royal Aero Club to keep the Aerial Derby a speed event, but to limit the engine size. It would then be possible for small racing aircraft to enter, and speeds of anything up to 200 miles an hour might be expected.