M.P.’s Privilege Upheld

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 159, 8 July 1938, Page 7

M.P.’s Privilege Upheld

MILITARY COURT FOUND TO HAVE COMMITTED BREACH (British. Official Wireless) RUGBY, July 5. The Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, in the House of Commons suggested that tho Leader of the Opposition, Mr. C. R. Attlee, should open conversations through the usual channels to see what arrangements could bo made for an early debate on the report of the Committee of Privileges, which Eound that a breach was committed when the military Court of Inquiry ordered Mr. D. Sandys to appear before it. The War Minister, Mr L. Hore-Be lisha, when questioned, declined to giv< information regarding the time anc place of meeting of the Army Counci) which decided to appoint the Court ol inquiry, or to make public the names of those present at the meet ing, on th« ground that it had not been the practice of the House to make the proceedings of the Army Council the subject of detailed question and answer. He said that 23 members of the House of Commons held commissions in the Territorial Army and two in the militia These members were subject to military law at all times under the Army Act. In addition, 57 members held com missions in the Regular Army or Territorial Army reserves. These member: generally speaking, were subject to military law if they were ordered for the military duty to which they were liable. Mr Hore-Belisha, in a written answer, quoted the rules in the Army Act, relating to the assembly and procedure of military Courts of Inquiry. Mr Sandys gave evidence privately for 75 minutes before the Select Committee, says a Press Association cable