London, Apr. 26.
The ancient franchise of members of the House of Lords was set aside to-day, when the House agreed to permi the attendance of Lord Derby '5 a witness before the Committee of Privileges set up by the House of Commons to investigate Mr. Winston Churehitl's charges that Sir Samuel Hoare and Tord Derby had exerted pressure to effect a modification of certain evidence to be given before the Joint Select Committee of Parliament on Indian Constitutional Reform.
"The matter arose on a written request from the House of Commons asking the permission of the House of Lords for Lord Derby's attendance.
Lord Derby was present in the chamber and gave his fullest assent to. the motion sanctioning his attendance.
Lord Hailsham, Secretary of State for War, in submitting the motion, said thata 260-year-old standing order provided that no lord must go down to the House of Commons, send Penalty of being put in the custody Of the officer of the House known as the Black Rod, or in the Tower of London.
Lord' Hailsham said that Lord Derby, being anxious to avoid those penalties but desiring to give evidence, had communicated with offeials the House, and he accordingly moved that, if Lord Derby thought fit, the request of the House of Commons be acceded to.
The motion was carried.—Wireless through Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.