Mr. Asquith also promised improvements in paying the separation allowances.
It is really preposterous that the wives should be kept a whole month without their money. They no doubt get it fully in the end, but since weekly payments are a universal habit of the working classes of this country, that habit cannot be disregarded without great suffering. It is very stupid of them, no doubt, but people who are kept waiting a month for their money always believe, as they say, that they will get nothing in the end- " You'll see we sha'n't." After a very moving little speech by Mr. Bonar Law, who has performed the very difficult duties of Leader of the Opposition to the satisfaction and admiration of the whole country, the vote was agreed to unanimously.