Mortality in the Licensed Victuallers' Trade. unclaimed prize moneys. The money for the new site and buildings is being provisionally met from the Military Works Loan. The money was allotted by the Army Council, acting in concert with the Treasury and the Office of Works. The authority for the disposal of the present site and buildings and the moneys derived from the sale thereof will be the Office of Works, acting in concert with the Army Council and the Treasury. MR. HORNIMAN: To ask the Secretary of State for War under what Act, scheme, or bequest is the capital represented by the building and site of the Duke of York's School, Chelsea, administered; and are the same printed, or where can they be inspected by persons interested therein. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The estate of the Duke of York's School is administered under the Royal Military Asylum Chelsea (Transfer) Act, 1884. MR. CHARLES ROBERTS (Lincoln): To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he can give particulars of the mortality for the period 1900-2, at five age-groups of ages, from twenty-five to thirty-five, thirty-five to forty-five, forty-five to fifty-five, fifty-five to sixtyfive, and sixty-five upwards, for all occupied males, brewers, publicans, including innkeepers and inn-servants, publicans in London, publicans in industrial districts, and publicans in agricultural districts respectively. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) The following are the particulars of the mortality in England and Wales in the period 1900-2 at five age-groups of males (aged twenty-five and upwards) engaged in the supply of intoxicating liquors, as compared in each age-group with that of all occupied males taken as 100 (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) In view of the importance of the public health and trade interests concerned, regulations dealing with preservatives in food generally could not be made without considerable preliminary inquiry or without supplementing the investigations of the Departmental Committee in various directions. In these circumstances it has not been found practicable to include regulations on this subject in the series now in preparation, but I have not lost sight of the matter, and have already regard to the present position of preservatives in certain food stuffs. little advertised, service to the State. It is no secret, and it is sufficient proof that he himseif had no ambition THE LATE PRIME MINISTER. for leadership, that when he was for *THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST the second time a Cabinet Minister, he LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. As- aspired, Sir, to be seated in your chair. QUITH, Fifeshire, E.): Mr. Speaker, many But though he had too modest an estimate of us, Sir, have come here fresh from the of himself to desire, and still less to seek, service in Westminster Abbey, where, the first place in the State, it fell to him, amidst the monuments and memories after years of much storm and stress of great men, the nation took its last by a title which no one disputed; and he farewell of all that was mortal in our filled it with an ever-growing recognition late Prime Minister. Sir, there is in all quarters of his unique qualifications. not a man whom I am addressing now What was the secret of the hold which who does not feel that our tribute to the in these later days he unquestionably dead would be incomplete if this House, had on the admiration and affection of which, by seniority, he was the father, of men of all parties and all creeds? and which for more than two years If, as I think was the case, he was one of men who require to be fully he has led, were not to offer to his those memory to-day its own special mark of known to be justly measured, may I not reverence and affection. I shall therefore, say that the more we knew him, both followers and opponents, the more we Sir, propose before I sit down that we should lay aside for to-day the urgent became aware that on the moral as on business which has brought us together, the intellectual side he had endowments, and that the House do at once adjourn rare in themselves, still rarer in their until to-morrow. It is within a few combination? For few combination? For example, he was months of forty years since Sir Henry singularly sensitive to human suffering Campbell-Bannerman took his seat in and wrong doing, delicate and even tender this Chamber. Mr. Gladstone had just in his sympathies, always disposed to entered upon his first Premiership in the despise victories won in any sphere plenitude of his powers and of his by mere brute force, an almost passionate lover of peace. And yet we have not authority. A new House, elected upon an extended suffrage, had brought to West- seen in our time a man of greater courage minster new men, new ideas-as some-courage not of the defiant or aggressive thought a new era. Among the new-type, but calm, patient, persistent, comers there were probably few, judged indomitable. Let me, Sir, recall another by the superficial tests which are common- apparent contrast in his nature. In ly applied, who seemed less obviously politics I think he may be fairly described destined than Mr. Campbell, as he then as an idealist in aim, and an optimist was, for ultimate leadership. There by temperament. Great causes appealed have been men who, in the cruel to him. He was not ashamed, even phrase of the ancient historian, were on the verge of old age, to see visions universally judged to be fit for the and to dream dreams. He had no highest place only until they attained misgivings as to the future of democracy. and held it. Our late Prime Minister He had a single-minded and unquenchbelonged to that rarer class whose fitness able faith in the unceasing progress for such a place, until they attain and the growing unity of mankind. and hold it, is never adequately understood. It is true that he reached office much earlier in his Parliamentary career than is the case with most politicians. In successive Governments, at the War Office, at the Admiralty, at the Irish Office, and at the War Office again, he rendered devoted and admirable, if None the less, in the selection of means, in the daily work of tilling the political field, in the choice of this man or that for some particular task, he showed not only that practical shrewdness which came to him from his Scottish ancestors, but the outlook, the detachment, the insight of a cultured citizen of the world. In truth, Mr. Speaker, that which gave him the authority and affection, which, taken together, no one among his contemporaries enjoyed in an equal measure, was not one quality more than another or any union of qualities; it was the man himself. He never put himself forward. vet no one had greater tenacity of purpose. He was the least cynical of mankind, but no one had a keener eye for the humours and ironies of the political situation. He was a strenuous and uncompromising fighter, a strong Party man, but he harboured no resentments, and was generous to a fault in appreciation of the work of others, whether friends or foes. He met both good and evil fortune with the same unclouded brow, the same unruffled temper, the same unshakable confidence in the justice and righteousness of his cause. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman had hardly attained the highest place, and made himself fully known, when a domestic trial, the saddest that can come to any of us, darkened his days, and dealt what proved to be a fatal blow to his heart. But he never for a moment shirked his duty to the State. He laboured onwe here have seen it at close quarters he laboured on under the strain of anxiety, and later, under the maiming sense of a loss that was ever fresh, always ready to respond to every public demand. And, Sir, as we knew him here, so after he was stricken down in the midst of his work, a martyr, if ever there was one, to conscience and duty, so he continued to the end. I can never forget the last time that I was privileged to see him, almost on the eve of his resignation. His mind was clear, his interest in the affairs of the country and of this House was undimmed; his talk was still lighted up by flashes of that homely and mellow wisdom which was peculiarly his own. Still more memorable, and not less characteristic, were the serene patience, the untroubled equanimity, the quiet trust, with which during those long and weary days, he awaited the call he knew was soon to come. He has gone to his rest, and to-day in this House, of which he was the senior and the most honoured Member, we may call a truce in the strife of parties, while we remember "This man is freed from servile bands MR. AKERS-DOUGLAS (Kent, St. Augustine's): I deeply regret the absence of the Leader of the Opposition, and I have reason to know that it is a matter of most sincere regret to my right hon. friend that he is unable to be in his place to-day, but, as the House is aware, he is at this moment disabled by illness. Had my right hon. friend been present, he would have rejoiced to bear testimony to the high regard he entertained for the character and career of the statesman whose loss we mourn to-day. I know that as an opponent my right hon. friend regarded him as scrupulously fair and chivalrous, and during his Leadership he always observed the high traditions of this House. In the unavoidable and regretted absence of my right hon. friend, it falls to me in far feebler phrases to second the Motion moved in such eloquent terms by the Prime Minister. I feel myself most fortunate in knowing that it needs no persuasion on my part to induce this House to accept the Resolution unanimously. While in this country the system of government by Party has long obtained and is firmly fixed, yet I maintain that there is no country, and no Assembly in any country, where the relations of political opponents are more free from personal bitterness than they are in this country and in this House of Commons; or where, on occasions such as these, there is greater readiness to drop all party prejudice and to recognise to the full the services rendered to the State by political opponents. It is not for me to attempt to follow the Prime Ministe in his survey of the public life of his pre decessor, but I would wish to be allowe to associate myself with all the tributes th right hon. Gentleman has paid to th memory of Sir Henry Campbell-Banne man. It would ill become me to critici the late Prime Minister's policy or open to a charge of insincerity, and, indeed, to make any controversial allusion to them would at once put me out of touch with the House on the present occasion. If there were anything in the present Motion that seemed to pledge the country or the House to approval of any particular hopes of the deceased statesman I can understand that questions might be raised or difficulties found in some quarters. But that is not the case. All that we do in supporting this Motion is to honour the memory of one who for forty years, by his high personal character, good temper, and urbanity, endeared himself to all with whom he was brought into personal contact and enjoyed the universal esteem of this House; and to put on record our appreciation of a public servant whose service to the State has been both honourable and distinguished. While we on this side of the House regarded his attitude and policy on some problems of great importance with some alarm, we have never viewed him with any anger or dislike, and even when his opinions may have been distasteful to some of us, we have ever had a kindly regard for him as a man. Therefore we can more fully understand and realise the warm affection-an affection which was earned by devoted and distinguished Party services, by energies spent, perhaps, too freely in the service of the State and in the service of his Party-we can, I say, understand the feelings with which he was regarded by his supporters in this House, and we on this side of the House cannot but admire the determination and courage with which he stuck to his political convictions, never flinched from opinions because they might be unpopular, and never failed at the lowest ebb of the political tide, or during the gloomiest period of his Party's fortunes, in his position, first as Leader of the Opposition, then as Leader of this House. No one could have been more popular nor did any one exist who had the power of inspiring a greater or a more general personal affection. In this capacity we have on this side of the House often had VOL. CLXXXVII. [FOURTH SERIES.] occasion to admire his conduct, tact, and resource, while we have appreciated to the full, although we have sometimes been disconcerted by, his wit and shrewdness. In common with his own followers we watched in sympathy and with solicitude the illness through which he passed. We had hoped that when the cares and weight of office had been removed from his shoulders he might have been restored to health and comparative vigour, and looked forward to a good old age with peace and contentment. But that was not to be. By his removal a long and honourable career has been brought to an end; the public life of this country thereby is far poorer, while this House has suffered a loss from which it will not readily or quickly recover, a loss which I would like to emphasise has been felt by his political opponents as much as by his political friends. Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the House do now adjourn."(Mr. Asquith.) MR. T. P. O'CONNOR (Liverpool, Scotland) : In the absence of my hon. friend the Member for Waterford I rise to say that we, the representatives of a cause which he so long advocated in this House, feel that we cannot allow an occasion like this to pass without, on behalf of Ireland, saying a word as to the loss which we have suffered in the death of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. Sir Henry Campbell - Bannerman boasted rightly that he was not only a Scot, but a Scot of Scots. We Irishmen feel that he had a love for our country and our cause as though he were one of us. We had an affection for him as if he were one of our own people. I have been told by those who knew him intimately that among the many causes that appealed to his generous nature there was none which made a readier appeal to it than the cause of Ireland. I know that it was only the imperative orders of his doctors that prevented him coming down, even after the beginning of his fatal illness, to 2 P Mortality in the Licensed Victuallers' Trade. unclaimed prize moneys. The money for the new site and buildings is being provisionally met from the Military Works Loan. The money was allotted by the Army Council, acting in concert with the Treasury and the Office of Works. The authority for the disposal of the present site and buildings and the moneys derived from the sale thereof will be the Office of Works, acting in concert with the Army Council and the Treasury. MR. HORNIMAN: To ask the Secretary of State for War under what Act, scheme, or bequest is the capital represented by the building and site of the Duke of York's School, Chelsea, administered; and are the same printed, or where can they be inspected by persons interested therein. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The estate of the Duke of York's School is administered under the Royal Military Asylum Chelsea (Transfer) Act, 1884. MR. CHARLES ROBERTS (Lincoln): To ask the President of the Local Government Board if he can give particulars of the mortality for the period 1900-2, at five age-groups of ages, from twenty-five to thirty-five, thirty-five to forty-five, forty-five to fifty-five, fifty-five to sixtyfive, and sixty-five upwards, for all occupied males, brewers, publicans, including innkeepers and inn-servants, publicans in London, publicans in industrial districts, and publicans in agricultural districts respectively. Standard for Preservatives in Food. MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick): To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, owing to the absence of any standard for preservatives in food and the consequent confusion prevailing in the public mind, he will be prepared to incorporate in the regulations he is now drafting under the powers conferred upon him by the Public Health (Regulation of Foods) Act, 1907, a clause fixing such standard, and thereby give practical effect to the recommendations (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) In view of the importance of the public health and trade interests concerned, regulations dealing with preservatives in food generally could not be made without considerable preliminary inquiry or with out supplementing the investigations of the Departmental Committee in various directions. In these circumstances it has not been found practicable to include regulations on this subject in the series now in preparation, but I have not lost sight of the matter, and have already |