_Tuesday, May 11th._--Lord LONDONDERRY moved the second reading of the
Air Navigation Bill. An important part of the Bill relates to trespass
or nuisance by aeroplanes. The rights of the property-owner _usque ad
coelum_ will obviously have to be considerably modified if commercial
aviation is to be possible; but Lord MONTAGU entered a _caveat_
against accepting the provisions of the Bill in this regard without
close examination. Constant flying over a man's house or property
might, as he said, constitute a serious nuisance. Imagine an
"air-drummer," if one may so call him, hovering over a Royal
garden-party and showering down leaflets on the distinguished guests.
The little _coterie_ that is so nervously anxious lest this country
should do anything to assist the Poles in their attacks on the
Bolshevists was particularly active this afternoon. Even the SPEAKER'S
large tolerance is beginning to give out. One of the gang announced
his intention of repeating a question already answered. "And I give
notice," said Mr. LOWTHER, "that if the hon. and gallant Member does
repeat it I shall not allow it to appear on the Notice-paper."
Another hon. Member wanted to know why, if we were not helping the
Poles, we kept a British mission at Warsaw. "Among other things,"
replied Mr. CHURCHILL, "to enable me to answer questions put to me
here." A third sought information regarding the expenditure of the
Secret Service money, and was duly snubbed by Mr. CHAMBERLAIN with the
reply that if he answered the question the Service would cease to be
secret.
The rejection of the Finance Bill was moved by Mr. BOTTOMLEY. In his
view the CHANCELLOR was making a great mistake in trying to pay off
debt, especially if it meant the taxation of such harmless luxuries
as champagne and cigars. "Let posterity pay," was his motto. Still, if
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN was determined to persist in his foolish course, let
him give him (Mr. BOTTOMLEY) a free hand and he would guarantee to
raise a thousand millions in a month. The best comment on this
oration was furnished by Mr. BARNES, who strongly advocated a tax upon
advertisements.
_Wednesday, May 12th._--The prevalent notion that the only road
a Scotsman cares about is that which leads to England cannot be
maintained in face of Lord BALFOUR'S vigorous indictment of the
Ministry of Transport for its neglect of the highways in his native
Clackmannan. The Duke of SUTHERLAND was equally eloquent about the
deplorable state of the Highlands, where the people were not even
allowed telephones to make up for their lack of transport facilities.
"Evil communications corrupt good manners," and there was real
danger that the Highlanders would vote "Wee Free" at the next General
Election. Appalled by this prospect, no doubt, Lord LYTTON hastened to
return a soft answer, from which we learned that three-quarters of
a million had already been allocated to Scottish roads, and gathered
that the dearest ambition of Sir ERIC GEDDES was to share the fame of
the hero immortalised in the famous lines:--
"Had you seen but these roads before they were made
You would hold up your hands and bless General WADE."
Only Mr. KIPLING could do full justice to the story of the abduction,
pursuit and recapture--all within thirty-six hours--of an English
lady at Peshawar. Even as officially narrated by Mr. MONTAGU it was
sufficiently exciting. The most curious and reassuring fact was
that all the actors in the drama, abductors and rescuers alike, were
Afridis. It is to be hoped that this versatile community includes a
cinematograph operator, and that a film will, like the lady, shortly
be "released."
[Illustration: "SUMER IS Y-CUMEN IN."