REPORT OF COMMITTEE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 28, 1 August 1930, Page 9

REPORT OF COMMITTEE

GUILTY OF GROSS LIBEL

CENSURE OF COMMONS

British Official Wireless.

(Received Ist August, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 31st July. 1 A verbatim report was issued to-day of tho proceedings in which the Committee of Privileges of the House of Commons dealt with the speech by Mr. E. Sandham, Labour member for Kirk- | dale, Liverpool, alleging that Labour j members had accepted bribes. The ! Committee, which consisted of ten niein- | bers, representing all parties in the House, states that the allegations made by Sandham. who appeared before them, were mere general statements given without any particulars, unsupported by any evidence and without the names of persons alleged to have been bribed. ( The Committee consequently told Mr. Sandham that it was therefore impossible for them to recommend investigation. / ■ The Committee found that in making his allegations Mr. Sandham was guilty of a gross breach of privilege, and that in stating that the acceptance of bribes 1 was in keeping with the traditions of the House he was guilty of a gross libel on the House as a whole. They considered that he deserved tho censure of the House. There was a sequel in the House of Cpinmons this evening when, aftjer the matter had been debated at some length,a motion that Mr. Sandham be admonished for breach of privilege was carried by 304 to 13. Mr. Sandham then stood while the Speaker, remaining seated, delivered the admonition.