BREACH OF PRIVILEGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 117, 17 April 1934, Page 7

BREACH OF PRIVILEGE

MR CHURCHILL’S CONTENTION. THE INDIAN DISCUSSION. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EVIDENCE. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received April 17, 11.55 a.m. RUGBY, April 16. With the Government’s full concurrence the House of Commons accepted a motion moved by Mr Winston Churchill that certain matters which lie claimed constituted a breach of privileges of the House be referred for investigation to the Committee of Privileges. Mr Churchill contended that the series of negotiations with the Indian section of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce amounted to pressure being brought to bear upon them to procure a fundamental alteration in the evidence already submitted to the Joint Select Committee on Indian Constitutional Reform.

Mr Churchill asserted that pressure was exerted by the Government and came primarily from Sir Samuel Hoare, but arose also from the fact that Lord Derby, who was a leading member of the Joint Select Committee, interviewed members of the Chambers of Commerce and counselled them to alter their evidence. Eventually the evidence was withdrawn and an entirely different document presented. _ The Speaker ruled that Mr Churchill had made out a prima facie case. Sir Samuel Hoare welcomed an impartial investigation. He thought the Committee would find that the alteration in the memorandum was due to the representations of the Lancashire delegation at that time in India. The inquiry, he said, would prove that Mr Churchill had found another mare’s nest.

The Opposition leaders supported the resolution and the Prime Minister expressed the Government’s full concurrence.