For a thorough-going democrat commend me to Lieutenant-Commander KENWORTHY, the new Member for Central Hull, whose latest idea is that before British troops are sent to any new front the approval of the House of Commons should be obtained.  I suspect that if, during his active-service days, some Member had proposed a similar restriction on the movements of the Fleet the comments of the gallant Commander himself would have been more pithy than Parliamentary.

[Illustration:  LADIES IN GOVERNMENT MOTOR-CARS.

General Seely. “WELL, HARDLY EVER.”]

The number of motor-cars at the disposal of the Air Ministry now stands at the apparently irreducible minimum of forty-two.  Quite a number of the officials use train or bus, like ordinary folk; some have even been seen to walk; and there has been such a slump in “joy-riding” that when asked if ladies were now carried in the official chariots General SEELY was able to assure the House that that never happens; though I think he added under his breath—­“well, hardly ever.”

There was barely a quorum when Colonel LESLIE WILSON rose to introduce the estimates of the Shipping Controller.  This was a pity, for he had a good story to tell of the mercantile marine, and told it very well.  He was less successful on the subject of the “national shipyards,” which have cost four millions of money and in two years have not succeeded in turning out a single completed ship.  With the wisdom that comes after the event Sir CHARLES HENRY fulminated ferociously against the “superman” who had imposed this “disastrous scheme” upon the country.

This brought up the superman himself, Sir ERIC GEDDES, who in the most vigorous speech he has yet delivered in the House defended the scheme as being absolutely essential at the time it was initiated.  It was a war-time expedient, which changing circumstances had rendered unnecessary; but if the War and the U-boat campaign had gone on it might have been the salvation of the country.  After all you can’t expect to have shipyards without making a few slips.

Tuesday, May 20th.—­The advance of woman continues.  Very soon she will have her foot upon the first rung of the judicial ladder, and be able to write J.P. after her name, for the LORD CHANCELLOR, pointing out that in this matter the Government were bound to honour the pledges of the PRIME MINISTER, gracefully swallowed Lord BEAUCHAMP’S Bill.  He took occasion, however, to warn the prospective justicesses (if that is the right term) that, as the Commissions of the Peace were already fully manned, it might be some time before any large number of ladies could be added to the roll of those who, in the words of the Prayer-book, “indifferently administer justice.”

[Illustration:  THE LONG PULL.

MR. ROBERTS RESPONDS TO HIS COUNTRY’S CALL.]