Mr George Balfour: I want to refer to one portion of the speech made by the right hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Lees-Smith). I ask hon. Members to accept my assurance that what I say has nothing of a controversial character about it. I only wish to put on record the remarks of the right hon. Member to the effect that his three right hon. Colleagues had joined the Government before the arrangement was con...
Mr George Balfour: For my part I am answer able to no one but the electors. If any hon. Member deserts that principle and allows any private interest to intervene, if any hon. Member is answerable to any other outside body in performing his duties in this House, he deserves to be turned out. If there is any departure from this principle the whole structure of our parliamentary system breaks down. I hope in less...
Mr George Balfour: We offered aid to Finland, and it was not accepted. Norway and Sweden were asked for the right to go through and help Finland, but they would not help us and in default of pledges to the League of Nations would not give us the opportunity to help Finland. There was no promise at all.
Mr George Balfour: What promise?
Mr George Balfour: Give them yourself now.
Mr George Balfour: rose—
Mr George Balfour: I was glad to hear the lucid explanation of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor. I had occasion in the last few days to deal with several cases relating to a large number of warrants. Certain warrants were due for payment on 30th September. A large number had been distributed to the bankers, and a large number remained in the company's offices—as difficult a case as you could imagine....
Mr George Balfour: Before the right hon. Gentleman goes on with that point. I am sorry to have to interrupt the right hon. Gentleman but I happen to be responsible for the Scottish Power Company in Scotland, and it has never paid more than 8 per cent. I wish to correct the statement of the right hon. Gentleman as to 15 per cent. dividend, and also to say that he is confusing the public supply of electricity...
Mr George Balfour: Mr. Balfour indicated dissent.
Mr George Balfour: I have nothing to do with the British Oxygen Company.
Mr George Balfour: Has the right hon. Gentleman heard of the arrival to-night of large masses of heavy aeroplanes of the latest type, and heavy artillery, for the Red forces?
Mr George Balfour: I think that, broadly speaking, the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Hackney (Mr. Morrison) has correctly put the issues which are before the House. During the last 20 years, there have been great changes in the Private Bill Procedure of the House, and in recent years every opportunity has been taken when a private Bill, under the special procedure, has been before the House, to...
Mr George Balfour: I have been present during the whole Debate.
Mr George Balfour: May I point out to the hon. and gallant Baronet that I did not suggest it could? I said that it was a matter for general legislation, and ought not to be thrust before the House now
Mr George Balfour: Why not?
Mr George Balfour: Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House how many thousands of Orders have been passed in the last five years, and how many have been under negative resolutions?
Mr George Balfour: I am glad to hear the pronouncement by my right hon. Friend, and I am sure that all my hon. Friends on this side of the House are relieved to know that full consideration should be given to this matter. I rise only on account of the speech of the hon. and learned Gentleman who spoke from the front bench opposite. In the first part of his speech, in a jeering, sneering way, he represented the...
Mr George Balfour: I listened with close attention to my hon. Friend the Member for North Paddington (Mr. Bracken) and to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr. Spens), and felt that I agreed with them both, especially my hon. and learned Friend, who stated a case which was indisputable. I should like to make a suggestion to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer as to how he might...
Mr George Balfour: It seems to me that the effectiveness of the whole of this Bill is dependent upon the decisions of the inspectors, and that the inspectors' certificates will largely be evidence as to whether the Bill, when it is an Act, is effective or not. Surely hon. Members opposite can rely upon the discretion of the inspectors as to whether or not suitable and proper provision is made for ventilation in...
Mr George Balfour: Then is the hon. Member prepared to cut the inspector out of the Bill?
