NEWS OF THE WEEK
[PARLIAMENT during the past week made progress in legislation, but the House of Commons did not advance its reputation as a debating assembly. Obstruction was attempted, and stupid and spiteful personal accusations were bandied about and had to be answered. It may be possible to find faults on all sides, but no one pretends that the extremists on the Labour Party benches were not most to blame. On Thursday, July 8th, the Coal 'Mines Bill was read a third time in the Upper House, and even there the usual decorum was lost for a time. The Labour- Peers, especially a very young one, spoke at great length and were considered by their fellows to be trying deliberately to delay the giving of the Royal Assent, which the Government had already delayed until the Yorkshire ,colliery companies came into line over the contracts offered to the miners. The closure was carried by fOrty-four votes to four. When later the Lords Commissioners gave the Royal Assent and the Commons were summoned by Black Rod, he was received in the Lower House. with uproar, and the Speaker was followed to the Lords by members whose behaviour in the galleries was most disorderly and apparently prearranged. What satisfaction anyone can have got out of these demonstrations it is hard to guess. The Speaker on Monday expressed his deep regret for the discourtesy.
