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WES r a r i NSTER

22nd July 1977, Page 7
22nd July 1977
Page 7
Page 7, 22nd July 1977 — WES r a r i NSTER
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

HAUL

WHEN he is in the Commons, David Hunt gives place to no one in his respect for the Chair ... after all, when he became Tory MP for Wirral last year. he succeeded Selwyn Lloyd, who had been Speaker.

So it can be taken for granted that, when he rose to oppose the Merseyside Passenger Transport Bill, the last thought in Mr Hunt's mind was to needle Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir Myer Galpern, who was presiding.

Nor can it be said that the unfailingly-courteous Sir Myer had any intention of squashing the MP. It was just that he could not resist the odd quip during Mr Hunt's speech.

The length of that speech could, perhaps. have had something to do with it. Mr Hunt — who already has claims to fame as the Tory with the largest majority, and the sponsor of the Minibus Bill — went on from eight minutes past seven to 10 o'clock.

One of the items in the Bill which Mr Hunt disliked was its method of dealing with "over-riding" on the buses, travelling for longer distances than paid for.

Well, Mr Hunt did not have to pay for making his speech, but if ever there was a case of over-riding ...

Mark you, when called to account, he did give good value for money.

For instance, when he reminded Sir Myer of the arguments he had deployed during an earlier debate on the Bill, there came a heartfelt "Thankfully, I was not in the Chair."

Whereupon the unabashed MP offered to go through a 30-page document, around on that other occasion. A kind thought not accepted.

The merry banter went on until it must have seemed to Sir Myer that the world had narrowed down to two souls — the MP and himself. For, when Mr Hunt remarked, in all innocence, that he was not filibustering, but dealing with the arguments made during the debate, from Sir Myer came a plaintive: "I do not know where the arguments have come from. No one else has taken part in the debate except the Deputy Speaker."

One can understand his feelings. A lesser mortal would have been crying for mercy when bombarded with consecutive sentences like "I do not think I am being too tautologous or oxymoronic I have been accused, tonight, of regaling myself with certain periphrastic and other grammatical indulgences... I am trying to demonstrate that I am, in no way, being quixotically chivalrous with words."

Even then, Mr Hunt's evening was not over.

He had to wait around for an hour-and-ahalf while MPs discussed the European view of pesticides before he could start off another — short — debate.

This time, however, Mr Hunt's subject was not transport.


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