Before the House of Commons adjourned on Thursday week for
the Recess, Mr. Bonar Law announced the appointment of a Court of Inquiry "to report upon the formation and financial arrangements of the British Cellulose and Chemical Manufacturing Company (Limited) and associate companies, and upon their relations with Departments." He had invited Lord Sumner with two laymen, Lord Inchcape and Lord Colwyn, to form the Court This Tribunal will not have power to take evidence on oath ; a special Act would be required to endow it with such power, and there Was no time to pass a Bill before the adjournment. The duty of Lord Sumner and his colleagues is, in effect, to con:firm or modify the judgment passed by the Select Committee on Expenditure, which inquired minutely into the great " dope " scandal. We trust that the Ministry of Munitions will strive meanwhile to got a larger MA better supply Of cellalose acetate, so that .our Air Forte may not be weakened by the Deliattnental muddling which forms the subject of the inquiry.
Previous page
