("Let the Nation set the example [in economy] to the
Government."--_Mr. LLOYD GEORGE._)]
* * * * *
=ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.=
_Monday, November 29th._--Some time ago Lord NEWTON was appointed
Chairman of a Committee on Smoke Abatement. It took enough evidence to
fill a Blue-book a couple of inches thick, and, at the request of the
Government, furnished an interim report. Supposing, not unnaturally,
that its valuable recommendations would be adopted in the Government's
housing schemes the Committee was disgusted to find that, save for an
emasculated summary in "a dismal journal called _Housing_," no notice
was taken of its report. Lord NEWTON is not a man who can safely be
invited to consume his own smoke, and he made indignant protest this
afternoon. A soft answer from Lord SANDHURST, who assured him that the
Government, far from being unmindful of the Committee's labours,
had already equipped some thousands of houses with central heating,
temporarily diverted his wrath.
Thanks to the Sinn Feiners, the Public Galleries of the House of
Commons were closed. Thus deprived of all audience save themselves and
the reporters the most loquacious Members were depressed. _Bombinantes
in gurgite vasto_, their arguments sounded hollow even to themselves.
With an obvious effort they tried to carry on what the SPEAKER
described--and deprecated--as "the usual Monday fiscal debate." This
time it turned upon the large imports from Russia in 1913. One side
seemed to think that similar imports would be forthcoming to-day but
for the obstructiveness of the British Government, while the other
was confident that Russia had nothing to export save propaganda. The
controversy was beginning to pall when by a happy inspiration Mr.
RONALD MCNEILL, with mock solemnity, inquired if the last egg in
Russia had not been eaten by a relation of the SECRETARY OF STATE FOR
WAR.
[Illustration: "His conscience now quite clear."