NEW PEERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 67, 2 November 1911, Page 8

NEW PEERS.

MR. EMMOTT AND LIE EDWARD

STRACHET

Air. Emmott, Liberal member for Oldham, is a cotton spinner. The history of the Emmott tamiiy is one of the romances of industrial Lancashire, says the ‘‘Tali ..Mail Gazette’s Guide to*the House of Commons-. Mr. Emmott’s grandfather, who was of Quaker descent, wont to Oldham early in the Victorian era comparatively a poor man, and was in the employ of .the Oldham Gas Company in quite a humble capacity. But he made use of ids leisure and his opportunities to learn the'details of gas-making, and was in due time entrusted with the oversight of the business. The old ■ gentleman lived to see Ids two grandsons. one a member of Parliament and the other 'married to a sister of the son-in-law of Queen Victoria, Charles Emmott having married Lady Constance Campbell. Tie trained ids sons to the cotton-spinning business. In the spinning of cotton and velvet 1.1 r. Alfred Emmott’s father built up a great firm, the same that is now. known as Emmott and Wallshnw, Ltd. Mr. Alfred Emmott, born in 1858, was educated at Grove House School, Tottenham, and graduated at London University. Ho was elected to Parliament in July, 1899, as a Liberal. Mr. Emmott is an Imperialist. It inis boon said of him that “the high honour ho lias attained of promotion to the Chairmanship of Committees in the House was a tribute to his qualities of tact and conciliation, and Ids goad tom per.” Sir Edward Straclicy, Liberal M.P. for Somerset South, received the reward and a recognition of four years of hard work in a triple capacity when ho was made Parliamentary Secretary oa the Board of Agriculture on the evo of the January, 1910, election, says the “Gazette Guide.” During the period from the formation of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman’s Ministry to Christmas, ,1909. ho not only acted as Treasurer of the Household and took his share of the Whips’ duties in the Lobby, but ho acted also, as the representative in the House of Commons of the Beard of AgrionltKi'o, and in that capacity lie conducted the Agricultural Holdings Bid of 1900 and the Small Holdings Bill of 1907, through the Commons, with r.nch tact and good temper that even the Oppositioni admitted that lie made two excellent Acts out of two very bad Bills. Sir Edward is an aristocrat. of an old country stock, with a passionate devotion to the cause of the oldest industry in the world. He has been a typical county member, and since his election in 1892 he has applied himself with vigour to the advancement of all practicable schemes For the improvement of agriculture •and the encouragement of thrift among the agricultural classes. His services to the friendly societies have been conspicuous.