BACK AT WESTMINSTER.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8178, 3 May 1919, Page 1 (Supplement)

BACK AT WESTMINSTER.

SOME IMPRESSIONS OF THE NEW PARLIAMENT

By HORATIO BOTTOMLEY, M.P. (Editor of “John Bull.”) In the following article Mr Bottomley, who has already asserted his dominating influence in the new Parliament, gives his impressions of the House — with many interesting reminiscences and character studies.

Rising in the House on Wednesday last, bo resume the debate on the Address in answer to the King’s speech, I said: “ I imagine that no old member, returning to the House after an absence of several years, can fail to be impressed with the new atmosphere of reality and responsibility which permeates its proceedings as compared with the state of things in pre-war days. I suppose it is that the old system of Make-Believe and Party intrigue, which his Majesty in his gracious speech calls ‘disunion,’ has come to an end, and that we have commenced to plumb the depths of the world’s verities.” And that sums up my general impression of the new Parliament.

I liked him more after his speech; and if I were Prime Minister I would ask him to breakfast—and settle the Irish question!

One of the first men I met was Mr. T. P. O'Connor—“Tay Pay,” as we call him—just back from Paris. Unfortunately I missed his speech, but I had a chat with him, and learnt that, although now over the allotted span of life, he is as fit as a fiddle—and full of fight. I have known “Tay Pay” many years—light back in the odd “ Star” and “ Sun” day?, and, although, in the hackneyed phrase, we have “ not always seen eye to eye together,” I fancy we are going t-o be gpod friends in this Parliament.

And each day since I spoke those words that impression has deepened. It is a very earnest House—and a very intelligent one. I don’t think I have heard one real’y bad speech, although one or two have been a bit on the dull side. But, speaking generally, the intellectual tone is superior to that of any of the other Parliaments in which I have sat.

Another o’d friend who held my attention was Mr. J. M. who has well earned the title of the Soldiers’ Friend, and is, beyond doubt, the leading authority on all questions of Pensions, Grants and kindred subjects. He moved an amendment to the Address, pressing the Government to redeem its promises, and standing at the table, with his notes on the famous dispatch box, spoke with all the calm and assuranec of a Prime Minister. He sits on the Front Opposition Bench, by the way, as Whip of the non-Co alii tion Liberals. At the end of his speech I passed him a note, in which I said: “A splendid and most- useful speech”; and*l repeat it.

Wo began well with a model speech from Co’onel Mildmay, in proposing the re-electi-on of Mr. Lowther as .Speaker —followed by a brilliant piece of parliamentary oratory from Sir Henry Dalziel, so full of pawky wit and humour and, at the same time, cf human nature, as, I believe, must have made late Sir Henry Campbe’f Bannerman turn in his grave with envy.

Speaking of Mr. Hogge, I am reminded that I had a chat in the Lobby with his political Siamese-twin, Mr. Pringle. Untii] he find another seat he will hover about the precincts of the House in the capacity of Assistant Whip to Sir Donald Maclean’s party. He is a singularly able man—and, although not exartly what the French call a Chauvinist, has done good work. I hope to see-Jiim back.

Then we had a really statesmanlike speech from Mr. Adamson, the Labour leader—who shares with Sir Donald Maclean the duty of “leading the Opposfition.” It was /to some ie-xtUnt marred by being practically read from manuscript notes, but the House is a very sensible and generous critic, and it appreciated the care which had been bestowed upon the preparation of Labour’s first official declaration. Then came Sir Dona’d Maclean—of course, a more experienced raentarian and, as an ex-Deputy Chairman of Committees, a master of procedure. His position was a somewhat difficult one, but, as we say in racing, “form will tell,” arid he soon asserted his claim to serious attention.

A member whom I noted for political ad\ ancement was Major Entwistle. He seconded Mr. Hogge’s amendment, speaking practically without notes, in an admirable little speech, full of earnestness and in good parliamentary style. We shall hear more of him. And young Lord Wolmer—who looks the same ago as when I left him seven years ago—he, too, evidently means business. He is confident and pertinacious, and I mark him down for office later on.

After that came the Prime Minister, and I was especially (interesting in seeing how he would acquit tiimself. When I took leave of him seven years ago lie was not a great parliamentarian; his manner was always more suggestive of the platform—or the pulptit—than of the House of Commons. But time has worked wonders with him. He is master of the House—of that there can be no doubt. And he knows it. He lectured the Labour men with the air of a great professor talking t-o a school of students. And his personality silenced them. He is a wonderful little man, and when he is on the Treasury Bench none of the others counts.

But the outstanding feature of the week lias been the maiden speech of Major Cohen—the legless member lor the Fairfield l>/iqion. At the commencement of the session I had given up, in his favour, my old corner scat, on the left as you enter the House, and it was from this position that, remaining seated, he addressed us.. Speaking with modest confidence, and taking himself mere’y as a kind of pattern of the disabled man, he soon won the sympathy of every member present —and made several excellent and: practical suggestions; and, at the close of his speech, we all flocked round to congratulate him.

Bonar Law, too, lias come on wouderful’y. Always on the dilettante side, he is as agile as an eel. Apparently lost in thought, he takes in every word of criticism of the Government, and springs up at the psychological moment to devour his assailant. He was good enough, by the way, to spare me —and, although he did me the honour ol listening to every word of my speech, he disappeared from the House just when everybody thought he would rise to reply! It was very good of him, cf course ,to spare me, but I expect I shall “ get it in the neck” one of these days!

By the way, my neighlxiur on the other side of the gangway is Mr. Crooks, who occupies the corner seat on the Opposition Front Bench. He has aged a good deal in recent years, and if> very bent. But he is the concentrated essence of our common humanity—and I think I detected something very like a tear in his eye whilst poor Obi ion was speaking.

Then there are Mr. Clynes and Mr. Brace. Both of these Labour men, fresh from the shackles of office, impressed me greatly. Mr. Clynes, cspecia'ly, has developed the true parliamentary manner, and I scarcely recognise:! the re tiring, little fellow whom I left on the Labour benches seven years ago.

And we have had a Division. I believe that interested the new members more than any other part of the proceedings. Some day, 'perhaps, I may tell yoi| all about Divisions and how they are worked. But for the moment my space is about exhausted.

And so a final word. The new House, as I have said, is going to make history. Ministers wi’l not. have all their own way. Indeed, the Premier’s majority, huge as it is, hangis by a thread. His men don’t mini being led, provided the road is the one they have decided to travel —but they won’t be driven. I have talked with many of them, and I know what I am saying.

Lord Hugh Cecil, too, interested me. He was not long in intervening in the debate on the Address, and, of course, bo was soon on Church topics—the Church in Wales to be explicit. 'Hie subject semed somewhat incongruous, but Loid Hugh lias a way with him, characterised by sue hobvious sincerity, that you cannot fail to be attracted.

For myself, I am in grim earnest; but I shall confine myself to the big things—the things which matter. I began these notes with the opening sentence of my speech on the Address; and I will end them with its concluding one: “We have come here,” I said “to devote ourselves to one great purpose—the making of this war worth while, find of building up from allj the tragedy of the past four years such a New Order as shall make every Briton wa-’k erect, with Civis Brit-tan nicies Sum still the proudest motto in t-lie world.”

And Mr. Devlin—one of the few survivors of the Sinn Fein assault—caught my attention. Just as though nothing had happened, he once more pleaded Ireland’s cause—from the Nationalist standpoint-; and woe to those who dared to interrupt him! “Impossible,” interjected one M.P., when some suggestion for Irish peace was made In a moment came the retort: “Oh, you, ‘lmpossibles’—you have been the curse of Irekind.” I have always liked Devlin—and