The gist of Mr. CHURCHILL’S comprehensive reply to allegations of waste at Chilwell was that there were not enough sheds to cover all the stores, and that to build additional accommodation would cost more than it would save.  There was a pleasant Hibernian flavour about his admission that the goods, “if they remained in their present condition, would, of course, deteriorate.”

Who says that D.O.R.A. has outlived her usefulness?  The HOME SECRETARY announced that the sale of chocolates in theatres is still verboten, so the frugal swain, whose “best girl” has a healthy appetite, may breathe again.

[Illustration:  DAVID COPPERFIELD UP TO DATE.

Mr. Clynes. “LOOK HERE—­IF THE PRICE OF ALE KEEPS ON GOING UP LIKE THIS I’LL HAVE TO SPEAK TO AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN ABOUT IT.”]

Mr. CLYNES, usually so cautious, was in a reckless mood.  First he tried to move the adjournment over the GOLOVIN revelations, and was informed by the SPEAKER that a report of doubtful authenticity, relating to events that happened over a year ago, could hardly be described as either “urgent” or “definite.”

Next, on the Finance Bill, he shocked his temperance colleagues by boldly demanding cheaper beer.  But, although he received the powerful support of Admiral Sir R. HALL, he failed to soften the heart of the CHANCELLOR, who declared that he must have his increased revenue, and that the beer-drinker must pay his share of it.

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN turned a more sympathetic ear to the bark of another sea-dog, Admiral ADAIR, who sought a reduction of the tax on champagne, and mentioned the horrifying fact that even City Companies were abandoning its consumption.  He received the unexpected support of Lieutenant-Commander KENWORTHY, who declared that Yorkshire miners always had a bottle after their day’s work and denounced an impost that would rob a poor man of his “boy.”  Eventually the CHANCELLOR agreed to reduce the new ad valorem duty by a third.  He might have made the same reduction in the case of cigars but for the declaration of a Labour Member that this was becoming “a rich man’s Budget from top to bottom.”

Wednesday, July 7th.—­Never was Lord Haldane’s power of clear thinking employed to better advantage than in his lucid exposition of the Duplicands and Feu-duties (Scotland) Bill.  I would not like to assert positively that all the Peers present fully grasped the momentous fact that a duplicand was a “casualty” and might be sometimes twice the feu-duty and sometimes three times that amount; but they understood enough to agree that it was a very fearful wild-fowl and ought to be restrained by law.

After this piquant hors-d’oeuvre they settled down to a solid joint of national finance, laid before them by Lord MIDLETON.  I am afraid they would have found it rather indigestible but for the sauce provided by Lord INCHCAPE, who was positively skittish in his comments upon the extravagance of the Government, and on one occasion even indulged in a pun.  In his view the Ministry of Transport was an entirely superfluous creation, solely arising out of the supposed necessity of finding a new job for Sir ERIC GEDDES.  I suppose the PRIME MINISTER said, “Here’s a square peg, look you; let us dig a hole round it.”