§ On the Motion that leave be given to all Committees to sit till Five o'clock during the sitting of the House.
§ SIR R. H. INGLISwished to call the attention of the House and the Government to the inconvenience of the House and the Committees sitting at the same time on Wednesday. On that day many most important measures were appointed for consideration in the House, and by the rules that had been adopted it was compulsory on many hon. Members who were interested in those questions to be absent, in consequence of having to attend Committees. It was, for instance, extremely inconvenient that such measures as the Pious and Charitable Purposes Bill, and other important measures, should be appointed for consideration when Members who took an interest in them were compelled to be absent. He trusted that the Government would adopt some measure to remedy the inconvenience.
§ SIR G. GREYfully admitted the inconvenience which arose from the absence of the Members who were attending on Railway Committees. According to the new arrangement five Members were necessary to the proceedings of a Committee, and every one felt how very difficult it was for them satisfactorily to discharge their proper duties. It was, however, much easier to admit the inconvenience than to provide the remedy. The twelve o'clock sittings on Wednesday had met with very general approval amongst the Members of that House; they all felt the great relief of being liberated during one evening in the 695 week, at the same time that every one must feel the inconvenience of proceeding to such subjects as were fixed for that day in a thin House. He would be glad if any arrangement could be adopted that would reconcile the progress of business in Committees with the relaxation which the Wednesday evening afforded.
§ MR. GOULBURNquite agreed with those who thought that the case was one of some difficulty. He felt the advantage arising from the relaxation which the Wednesday evenings afforded, and yet he was not insensible to the necessity of providing for the progress of business in Committees.
§ MR. GREENEsaid, that the House gave leave to Committees to sit, but did not enjoin them to do so, on Wednesdays.
MR. HODGSONsuggested that they might resort to the old practice of sitting at four o'clock on Wednesdays.
§ MR. GISBORNEsaid, as the Committees had the power of adjourning, it would be better to make some general rule upon the subject. It would be better to make a rule either for the Committees not to sit upon Wednesdays, or for the House not to sit upon Wednesdays. It would be for the Government to determine which would be attended with the least inconvenience.
MR. W. JAMESsuggested that the Committees should commence sitting at six o'clock in the evening on Wednesdays, and continue their sitting till midnight.
§ Motion agreed to.