Mr Adam M'Kinlay: The hon. Gentleman suggests that we should do away with the die-stamp. Does he propose to close all the printing works in the interim period before the election because if there is not a stamp on the ballot paper there could be phoney papers printed. I am not suggesting that this is done, but it could be done.
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: What about 1933?
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: Including all the vennels?
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: I am somewhat timorous in entering into a discussion on the appointment of magistrates. It is peculiar that in Scotland the Lord Chancellor has nothing whatever to do with appointing magistrates. The magistrates in the burghs are appointed by the local authorities, and they do not need to ask the consent of either the Lord Chancellor or any other body in electing whom they will as a magistrate.
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: I have been a J.P. for the best part of 16 or 17 years—possibly more. However, one thing that I could not discover was who appointed the advisory committee; nor could anybody ever tell me at any time whether the Lord Lieutenant took the advice of the advisory committee. I can recall an occasion when a person who was one of the best of men—possibly, one of the greatest Scotsmen of his...
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: What about visiting magistrates?
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: And we do not need Churchill's permission either.
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: Did I understand the Lord Advocate correctly? Did he say there were five cases of assault? I do not think he said these were cases of corporal punishment.
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: Not corporal punishment.
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: I think that the logic of this new Clause lies on the Government side. I rise for the purpose of suggesting to my right hon. Friend that we should divide on the new Clause. In suggesting that, I wish to say a word in passing to the hon. Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. S. Silverman). I ask him, please, never to treat Scotland as a parish, or refer to it as a county-of England.
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: My hon. Friend raised the question of exception being taken to Scottish Members talking on a Bill affect-
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: Call them "Bracken Institutes." and we can always burn them down.
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: Is not it a fact that the editorial policy of two of the newspapers to which the hon. Member refers is controlled from London and not from Scotland at all?
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: I will have a bet with the hon. Member any time he likes.
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: I said two news-papers—
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: I said with regard to two of the newspapers mentioned by the hon. Member that the editorial policy is controlled from London.
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: It may be that provision was made in the Act that was passed by this House, but hon. Members who have any local government experience know exactly what happened on the last occasion. Local authorities which got ahead with the job and incurred considerable expenditure found themselves the losers in the outcome. When the ascertainment was made and the grants were forthcoming, no credit was...
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: On a point of Order. Is it right that an hon. Member should make a statement in this House which is absolutely contrary to the facts?
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: I should like to have your guidance, Mr. Speaker. I should like to know whether this Amendment is strictly in Order. I should like the case to be argued on its merits instead of the Amendment being ruled out of Order, but at a time when we are being invited by Members opposite to watch national expenditure, I want to be sure that there is no transgression of the Financial Resolution, as in my...
Mr Adam M'Kinlay: Perhaps I might let the House into a secret. It was a Member opposite who destroyed any possible hope of a compromise during the Committee stage on this question. It was the hon. Member for West Aberdeen (Mr. Thornton-Kemsley). I think that the House and the public ought to know that the National Farmers' Union had consultations and we were a fair way towards finding a compromise. I say...