Funny Old Things

Hero-worshipping men-children of Giggleswick School, Yorkshire, were addressed last fortnight by Lord Byng of Vimy, 65, the grizzled War hero who is about to become Police Commissioner at London's famed Scotland Yard. Even at Giggleswick little boys know that Scotland Yard has been rocked by scandalous exposures (TIME, July 16) and that the weighty War prestige of Lord Byng is counted on to steady matters down. Especially do naughty little Giggleswickers know about Miss Irene Savidge, who was made to show her pink petticoat in the course of a Scotland Yard Third Degree which caused the scandal to break. With a rousing, boyish cheer the Giggleswickers greeted great Viscount Byng of Vimy. At 65 some men have grown a little old, querulous and malapropian but Hero Byng would speak inspiring words. Soon his address climaxed as follows: "We funny old things look to you lads to be the future leaders of the country." . . . Made public last week were the majority and minority reports of the Extraordinary Tribunal constituted by joint action of both Houses of Parliament to determine whether or not an improper Third Degree had been administered to Miss Irene Savidge, an admittedly innocent young woman. The majority report stated that the Scotland Yard police had acted in accordance with traditional procedure and must not therefore be censured, but added that the procedure ought to be modified to protect from embarrassment or indignities innocent persons summoned to the Yard for questioning. Promptly the recommended modifications were ordered introduced at Scotland Yard by special fiat of the Home Secretary, Sir William ("Jix") Joynson-Hicks (Arch-Conservative). The minority report, signed by a Laborite, flayed Scotland Yard for administering an indefensible and scandalous Third Degree, accused police inspectors of collusion and prevarication, and expressed the opinion that Inspector Collins, who grilled Miss Savidge, had deliberately twisted her replies in a misleading manner for purposes of police record. . . . A most unfortunate impression was created when a Laborite asked "Does corruption exist at Scotland Yard?" and Sir William Joynson-Hicks triumphantly and almost airily replied: "I think not. People tell me stories of that sort from time to time, but they won't hold water."