Captain John Watson: 27. asked the Prime Minister whether the cost of living is falling in ratio with the demands made in some trades for wage reductions; and whether, in the public interest and to lessen industrial unrest, the Government is prepared to set up a commission of inquiry to ascertain the facts?
Captain John Watson: I think the Committee is ready to go to a Division. We have had an explanation from the Government as to the course they propose, but we have not had the slightest explanation from the right hon. Gentleman opposite and those who support him as to why they threw out these airy figures of £30,000 or £40,000. Until we have some explanation from them I am quite prepared to vote with the Government.
Captain John Watson: I desire to raise, quite briefly, a subject which affects every cyclist in this country, namely, the compulsory carrying of a rear light on his machine. As the House knows, it was not necessary, before the War, to carry a rear light. During the War the necessity for carrying a rear light was imposed. That Order was cancelled, but during the Railway Strike of last year it was reimposed, and it...
Captain John Watson: 29. asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that for many months past certain Admiralty houses in Eton Road, Stockton-on-Tees, have been unoccupied, causing deep resentment and indignation amongst those requiring houses; whether he is aware that more than a year ago the Admiralty informed the town clerk of Stockton by letter that the premises would probably be required at an...
Captain John Watson: Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the houses are to be occupied immediately, and, if not, will the Admiralty consider letting them on weekly tenacies, the tenants undertaking in writing to vacate at short notice?
Captain John Watson: Although I do not approve of the whole of the provisions of this measure, I intend to vote for the Second Reading in the hope that it may be amended in Committe. I spoke and voted in favour of a similar measure introduced about 12 months ago, and I spoke in favour of the main principle included in this measure in the first speech I made in this House. I have nothing to add to what I said on...
Captain John Watson: 20. asked the Minister of Health whether he has received representations in favour of altering the statutory date for holding municipal elections from the 1st November to the third Saturday in the month of May in each year, but when Whit Saturday falls on the third or fourth Saturday in May the election to be held upon the first Saturday in May; and whether he is prepared to take such steps...
Captain John Watson: I rise to dissociate myself entirely from the bulk of those who have spoken on this question. What do those who have spoken against this Bill say? They have pointed out that it is unwise and unpopular, but not a single one of them has ventured to state that any particular Minister whose salary is to be increased is unworthy of it or that the responsibility which he has to bear is unworthy of...
Captain John Watson: I rise to intervene for a very few moments. Unlike the right hon. Gentleman who moved the Adjournment of the House, and the hon. Member who followed him, who both somewhat apologised and said that they spoke with reluctance, I rise to-night with no reluctance at all, because I feel that this is about the most serious matter which has come before the present Parliament. I am perfectly sure...
Captain John Watson: On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Will you kindly inform the House under what conditions, and by whose authority, certain hon. Members have taken their seats to-day on the Front Opposition Bench?
Captain John Watson: I rise to give my whole-hearted and undivided support to this measure and to express the hope that at the earliest possible date it may be passed into law. In expressing that hope I am only acting in harmony and consistently with the views I expressed in the first speech which I made in this House nearly two years ago. In my opinion this measure is merely the logical conclusion and the...
