STORMY DEBATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23991, 14 December 1939, Page 10

STORMY DEBATE

THE HOUSE OF LORDS CENSORSHIP CRITICISED STORIES OF MUDDLING (United Press Association) (By Electric Tel egrahp-—Copy right) LONDON, Dec. 12, (Received Dec. 13, at 10 p.m.) The Ministery of Information Censor»hip Bureau was again under fire in the House of Lords when several peers alternatively astonished and amused the House with stories of early muddling.' A stormy debate was wound up with assurances from Lord MacMillan that the Ministry was not a home of idlers. Lord Raglan pointed out that he received £750 a year to examine illustrated papers. He was only able to find an hour’s work a day, 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 there till morning. Two assistant censors were appointed to his department, He later found four lady 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 lady.—(Renewed laughter.) Lord Raglan added that the photographic staff seemed hard at work shopping publication of photographs in London, which* were appearing in all provincial papers. Earl Middleton said the time had come to emphasise the deepest indignation prevailing among all classes at the utter squandering of money on these and similar appointments. Unless the Government was pledged to deal with the matter hr would make the most unpleasant disclosures. The Marquess of Dufferin and Ava complained that Lord MacMillan, Lord Raglan’s successor, was forced to work 12 hours a day clearing up. Lord Raglan: I left' a perfectly clean sheet. „ „ , , . The Marquess of Dufferin and Ava: Our conceptions of a clean sheet differ Lord MacMillan was amply occupied. The staff was. not redundant and not excessively paid. Many were giving then services free. The House of Commons appointed an all-party Select Committee to examine all war expenditure and report what economies, if any, can be made, consistent with Government policy.