STORMY DEBATE IN HOUSE OF LORDS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 69, 14 December 1939, Page 10

STORMY DEBATE IN HOUSE OF LORDS

Censorship Bureau Under Fire STORIES OF EARLY MUDDLING ■ By Tcirgrapli.—Press Assn.—Copyright (Received December 13. 7.5 p.m.) LONDON. December 12. The Ministry of Information censorship bureau was again under lire in the House of Lords when several peers alternatively astonished and amused the House with stories of early muddling. A stormy debate wound up with assurances from Lord MacMillan that the Ministry was not a home of idlers.

Lord Ragan pointed out that he received 4750 a year to examine illustrated papers. He was only able to find an hour's work daily, whereupon he was asked if he wanted a private secretary. (Laughter.) He thereupon

resigned. Lord Raglan added that the censorship department was ' overpaid and overstaffed. The night staff did nothing. They arrived at midnight, went to camp beds in the bureau, and stayed till morning.

Two assistant censors were appointed to his department. He later found four women examiners: added by whom and for what purpose he never discovered. They did nothing throughout the day. He informed the senior officer, and the only reply to his complaint was the appointment of a fifth woman. (Renewed laughter.) Lord Raglan added that the photographic staff seemed hard at work stopping the publication of photographs in Loudon which were appearing in all the provincial papers.

The Earl of Midleton said the time had come to emphasize the very deep indignation pre vailing among all classes at the utter squandering of money on these and similar appointments. Unless the Government. pledged itself to deal with the matter he would make most unpleasant disclosures. The Marquis of Dufferin and Ava complained that Lord MacMillan, Lord Raglan’s successor, was forced to work twelve hours a day clearing up. Lord Raglan : I left a perfectly clean sheet. Lord Dufferin and Ava : Our conceptions of a clean sheet differ. Lord MacMillan said he was amply occupied. The staff was not redundant and was not. excessively paid. Many were giving their services free.