Mr Charles White: I am fully in favour of the extension of the Rents Restriction Act, but I think the Attorney-General is quite wise in fixing a definite period with the opportunity of renewing it. I think it will have to be renewed and I shall probably support its renewal, but I wish to point out to the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Adamson) that there is something to be said on the other side. I will quote the...
Mr Charles White: 37. asked the President of the Local Government Board what is the average duration in years of an old age pension, and what is the average cost per pensioner for the period during receipt of an old age pension?
Mr Charles White: Could they not be obtained?
Mr Charles White: Will the right hon. Gentleman bring the same to the notice of conscientious objectors and so knock the bottom out of this agitation which is going on?
Mr Charles White: 24. asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is a considerable number of men who have held rank as non-commissioned officers or as warrant officers, class 2, for a considerable period during the War who were not informed by their commanding officers that the rank was an acting one only; and whether, in cases where it appears that the non-announcement of their promotion in regimental...
Mr Charles White: It is perfectly easy for the Secretary of State for War to make out a good case for his supporters, but I should like him to remember that all the brains and wisdom of the country are not concentrated in the House of Commons, and that some of us have some experience—I would venture to say even greater experience than he has had during the past few weeks—of what is the feeling of the...
Mr Charles White: I beg to second the Amendment. My hon. Friend said he hoped the Minister for War was in a somewhat chastened frame of mind. I should be very glad to see that. Some two or three weeks ago the right hon. Gentleman said it was not intended to send more men to Russia, and that the reason the men who were there could not come back was because they were frozen in. That is a very good reason why...
Mr Charles White: I beg to second the Amendment. I have not read the White Paper mentioned by my hon. Friend the Member for East Edinburgh (Mr. Hogge), but I have seen many hundreds of prisoners who have come back—men of twenty-five who look like men of fifty. The right hon. Gentleman has argued that these men should not have preferential treatment as compared with the men who risked their lives in the...
Mr Charles White: Which is often wrong!
Mr Charles White: I am glad to find someone on the opposite benches who seems to be likely enough to find a seat on these benches. If he votes against the Government, we shall expect to have his company before very long. A great deal has been said about stimulating production and preventing unemployment. I want to put a concrete instance before the House of how the Government can improve the present instead of...
Mr Charles White: If this Bill were an Act to-night I could qualify immediately for two years' hard labour and a fine of £100, which I should have great difficulty in finding, for I had only this morning a letter of the gravest character from a soldier which resulted in the loss of a great many lives. I am not going to read it or make it public—it is as grave as that. It is known to the members of the...
Mr Charles White: I anticipated that ruling and therefore got in as much as I could before you interfered, Sir. I will not pursue that subject further. I should like to say one or two words with regard to the abolition of held punishment No. 1. I will give one instance, without mentioning names or dates. It is the case of a young man of the highest character, whom I knew before he went from my county of...
Mr Charles White: 24. asked the Secretary of State for War the number of Army officers of all ranks on full pay; how many of these are on actual military service; and how many are employed in administrative posts?
Mr Charles White: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that during the War Officers Commanding hospitals, in particular, were notorious for employing a far larger number of orderlies and fatigue men than was necessary, and if he does not consider therefore that such officers may now retain an unnecessarily large number of men?
Mr Charles White: I think enough has been said to warrant all of us voting for this measure. Not a single reason has been given why it should not become law. We have on the other side of the House one hon. Member who has pleaded for delay because of pledges given to someone. I want to ask to whom those pledges were given, because against that we had the Government at the election, in the manifesto which they...
Mr Charles White: 24. asked how many of the 113,305 Army officers now receiving full pay are also Members of the House of Commons, thus receiving two salaries from the public purse?
Mr Charles White: 20. asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there are a number of officers in combatant units at home awaiting demobilisation who are surplus to the requirements of such units and for whom no useful employment can be found; whether he can state the cause of delay in releasing them, and whether, in the interests of economy, he will issue instructions that such officers...
Mr Charles White: In view of the necessity for obtaining a large number of men at an early date, will the right hon. Gentleman suggest to the Minister of Labour the discontinuance of the unemployment donation to men under twenty-five years of age?
Mr Charles White: 28. asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that £48 5s. 3d. was due to Private C. Froude, No. 37445, 7th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment, when he was killed, in December, 1917, leaving a widow and one child; whether he is aware that of this amount £16 1s. 9d. only has been paid to the widow, the balance of £32 3s. 6d. having been invested by the War Office at 2½ per...
Mr Charles White: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the letter which she received stated that the money had already been invested?
