Lord Huntingfield: I thought the hon. Member was in favour of leaving it to the free play of private enterprise?
Lord Huntingfield: I was alluding to the rubber position.
Lord Huntingfield: The prices of motor-cars have not increased.
Lord Huntingfield: I beg to give notice that, to-morrow fortnight, I will call attention to the decline of Socialism in the East End as witnessed by the glorious constitutional victory of the Mile End by-election for the London County Council, and move a Resolution.
Lord Huntingfield: I beg to give notice that, on this day fortnight, I shall call attention to rural apprenticeship, and move a Resolution.
Lord Huntingfield: I want to address a very few remarks in connection with the mention of agriculture in the Speech from the Throne. I very much agree with the hon. Member for Forfarshire (Sir H. Hope) in what he said with regard to the Merchandise Marks Bill, but I would not for one moment criticise any Measures that the Minister of Agriculture may bring in until we hear exactly what the terms of reference...
Lord Huntingfield: I must agree with the last speaker in what he said as to the farming community of this country not being satisfied with the terms of the Bill. I wish the House to believe that in everything I say I do not speak with any hostility to the Church, but there are several points in connection with this Bill which should be brought before the House by the representative of an agricultural...
Lord Huntingfield: I think the House must agree that that is a principle which cannot be defended, because in 1918 farming was in a very much more prosperous state than it is to-day, and you were asked to redeem your tithe for a period of 30 years at a figure represented in capital value at about £5,000, but to-day, when the position is absolutely altered, from the farming point of view, you are asked to leave...
Lord Huntingfield: If Clause 1 is left out, that means that the whole Bill certainly is finished. I do not want that the tithe should be left to the open market next year, when it will go up to a very high figure; but I feel that the House ought to realise that, that something ought to be done, and that fairness ought to be accorded to the tithe payer as well as to the tithe owner. The nationalisation of land...
Lord Huntingfield: Yes. If we are compelled to pay into the Queen Anne's Bounty every year a figure for redemption of tithe, supposing the land was nationalised by His Majesty's Opposition—
Lord Huntingfield: I must apologise. I was trying to bring in a certain point of view on this Bill which I do not remember having heard discussed before in this House. I feel, on the whole, that the tithe owner under this Bill is not in any way to be pitied. I do not think it is realised by this House that this figure of 105 really takes into consideration the full value of tithe as it would be next year, that...
Lord Huntingfield: I do apologise, and I will say no more, except this, that I hope very much that the Government, in considering this Bill, will realise that for us people in the Eastern Counties of England, who have to pay such heavy tithe, it is a very great burden, and we can ill afford to pay it at this time, when farming is at such a low ebb.
Lord Huntingfield: 72.
Lord Huntingfield: 59. asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the number of men employed on work at Framlingham Castle; if any of these were unemployed and ex-service men; and what is the amount of the sum to be expended on this-work?
Lord Huntingfield: Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether these men are actually unemployed before they are taken on for this work?
Lord Huntingfield: Is it not a fact that the Socialist Members are clamouring for free passes over the whole of the railways of England?
Lord Huntingfield: I crave the indulgence of the House in making my first speech in it. I have heard since I have been here many maiden speeches, and I have looked upon the speakers with a mixed feeling of jealousy and admiration—jealousy because they have broken the ice, and admiration for the way in which they did it. In talking on this Bill, I find I am up against two great difficulties. One is that...
