Monday, March 8th.—­I should hesitate to call Sir HAMAR GREENWOOD the Pooh-Bah of the Ministry, though he has something of that worthy’s sublime self-confidence and his capacity for taking any number of posts.  The House, which knows him both as Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department of the Board of Trade, was surprised to hear him answering questions relating to the nascent oil-wells in the United Kingdom, and to learn that he had become “Minister for Petroleum Affairs.”  But there the likeness ceases to be exact. Pooh Bah’s interest was in palm-oil.

[Illustration:  CARRYING ON.

MR. NEAL CADDIES FOR SIR ERIC GEDDES.]

A few days ago the CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER facetiously compared the critics of the Government to the poet of Rejected Addresses who declared that it was BUONAPARTE “who makes the quartern loaf and Luddites rise.”  Out of the Government’s own mouth the critics are now, at any rate, partially justified, for the PRIME MINISTER announced that the bread subsidy was to be halved, and that on and after April 12th the quartern loaf would rise—­he did not quite know where.

In view of the occasional rumours of friction between Government departments it is pleasant to record that the Ministry of Transport and the War Office are on the friendliest terms.  Invited to abolish, in the interests of the taxpayer, the cheap railway tickets now issued to soldiers, Mr. NEAL said it was primarily a question for the War Office, as in this matter Sir ERIC GEDDES would wish to move in harmony with Mr. CHURCHILL.  As the WAR SECRETARY promptly announced his intention of doing his best to maintain the soldiers’ privilege it is conjectured that he will return from the ride with Sir ERIC inside.

The new Member for Paisley delivered his maiden speech to-night, and acquitted himself so well that in the opinion of Members many months his senior he is likely to go far.  The Government had proposed to “guillotine” the remaining Supplementary Estimates in order to get them through before March 31st.  Some ardent economists, mainly drawn from the Coalition, while ready to concede the end, protested against the means, and proposed that the House should make its own arrangements.

[Illustration:  RARA AVIS IN TERRIS.

“Never since the days of Icarus had there been an aviator quite like the right hon. gentleman [Mr. WINSTON CHURCHILL].  He had displayed much sympathy with the Air Force and had almost been one of its martyrs.”—­Lord HUGH CECIL.]

Mr. BONAR LAW promptly perceived the advantage of transferring from the Government to the House a disagreeable responsibility.  Forgetting that he was cast for the executioner, not the hero, he murmured, “It is a far, far better thing,” and graciously accepted the proposed alternative.  Mr. ASQUITH, not unwilling to help in establishing a precedent which some day he himself may find useful, backed him up, and the House, as a whole, congratulating itself on its escape from the public executioner, cheerfully proceeded to commit harakiri.