Mr Alan McKibbin: Is the Minister aware that a short time ago I asked him a question about a firm in Belfast who were refused permission to import cheese from the Republic of Eire because it was being imported in 5 lb. boxes instead of 1 lb. packets and that the result is that all the cheese now goes to Germany?
Mr Alan McKibbin: I had no intention of speaking in this debate, as the Bill does not apply to Ulster, but Ulster has been mentioned by several hon. Members. My hon. Friend the Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell), in moving the Second Reading of the Bill, said that it did not apply to Ulster because the R.S.P.CA. have no jurisdiction there. But we have an Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to...
Mr Alan McKibbin: It was perhaps later, when the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) was not present, that the hon. and learned Member referred to the other matter that I have mentioned. I have no ill-feelings towards the hon. and learned Member for Hornchurch. I regard him with very friendly feelings indeed, in fact rather as a pet, although I would not wish to fondle him, which one of my hon....
Mr Alan McKibbin: I am sorry that I said that, and I am also sorry that the hon. and learned Member is not present, but that is what I mean, and I have said it. I support the Bill.
Mr Alan McKibbin: I beg to move: That this House, remembering the splendid service given during two world wars by His Majesty's subjects in the Colonial Empire and noticing with disappointment the decline in the numbers now serving in His Majesty's Armed Forces, regrets that the Government has failed to facilitate in consultation with Colonial Governments the additional use of colonial volunteers in defence of...
Mr Alan McKibbin: I presume that is why the hon. Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Bing) knows more about West Africa than he does about Northern Ireland.
Mr Alan McKibbin: That speech was never made at the election of my hon. Friend the Member for Londonderry. No such speech was ever made.
Mr Alan McKibbin: I beg to give notice that on Friday, 16th March, I shall call attention to the greater use of colonial manpower and resources in re-armament, and move a Resolution.
Mr Alan McKibbin: Does not the Prime Minister agree that the purpose of such statements made by a few hon. Members is to get anti-partition votes in their constituencies; but that this counts for nothing against the determination of Ulster that there shall be no surrender?
Mr Alan McKibbin: In the 1914–18 war and again in 1939 the men and women of Ulster played their part both in the Services and in the workshops without conscription. I might add that the Ulster Government asked for it in 1939, but it was refused. Now that another crisis is looming ahead, do not the Government consider that it would be an appropriate time to apply conscription to Ulster? I have two reasons for...
Mr Alan McKibbin: I am sorry, Mr. Speaker. I felt that if the men who served in the last war voluntarily and are now in the Class "Z" Reserve were called up, it would be very unfair to them if there is no conscription and the people who are not conscripted, can go in and take their jobs. However, as the matter is out of order, I have no more to say.
Mr Alan McKibbin: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the magnificent review in Northern Ireland of the troops of the Territorial Army and Auxiliary Forces is proof that voluntary recruiting is not a failure in Northern Ireland?
Mr Alan McKibbin: Is the Home Secretary aware that there is considerable resentment among Scotsmen residing in Northern Ireland at having to expend from 3s. 6d. to 5s. on the purchase of photographs for these passports? Is he aware that one such Scotsman informed me that in his case the cost was 25s., and that had he known that, he would have left his family behind and visited Scotland himself?
Mr Alan McKibbin: asked the Postmaster-General what is the date of the earliest unsatisfied application for a telephone in Belfast.
Mr Alan McKibbin: Does this apply to business as well as private telephones?
Mr Alan McKibbin: I crave the indulgence of the House, as this is the first time I have had the honour of speaking here. I am particularly interested in the question of voluntary recruiting for the Territorial Army in Northern Ireland. We have not conscription, but that is not our fault, because when the 1939 war broke out we asked for conscription, as we wished to take our full part in the war. For reasons...
