HC Deb 27 October 1882 vol 274 cc287-9
MR. SPEAKER

Before proceeding to the Orders of the Day, I think it may be for the convenience of the House that I should state that the Amendment of the hon. Member for Mid Lincolnshire (Mr. Chaplin), which stands third on the Notice Paper, will be out of Order, and cannot be put. It will be observed that the 1st Resolution relates to the closing of debate, while the Amendment concerns the discipline of individual Members—a matter which forms the subject of the 5th Resolution. It is true that the Amendment of the hon. Member comprises some provisions differing from the terms of that Resolution; but they could be more properly and conveniently discussed as Amendments to that Resolution, to which they are germane. To the 1st Resolution they are not relevant, and cannot be entertained at this stage of the proceedings.

MR. CHAPLIN

said, he did not intend for a moment to resist the ruling of the Speaker; but as this decision would place many of those who sat on this side of the House in a position of sudden and unexpected difficulty, he ventured, with great respect, by the permission of the Chair, and, he hoped, with the indulgence of the House, in a very few words, to state some of the consequences which must ensue from this ruling—[Cries of "Order!"]—and which, he gathered from the Speaker's observations, had not, perhaps, yet attracted his attention. He should not presume against the Speaker's wish in making any observations; but he concluded from his silence that he had permission.

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member will be more in Order in raising any question of this kind on the Order of the Day being called, and when the question comes on. The hon. Member now proposes, as I understand him, to question the ruling of the Chair. Of course, that would involve a matter of argument and debate; and it is plain, I think, to the hon. Member that at the present time it would be inconvenient, if not irregular.

MR. CHAPLIN

said, he would defer his observations.

MR. JOSEPH COWEN

asked whether there were any other Amendments which it was the intention of the Speaker to rule out of Order?

MR. SPEAKER

I am persuaded the House would consider it a most inconvenient course if the Chair were to go through the whole of the 42 Amendments to the 1st Resolution seriatim, and state to the House whether each one of them was regular or irregular; and I must observe to the House that hon. Members, if I did so, might form very incorrect conclusions, because Amendments which might be in Order at this Sitting might be out of Order at a subsequent Sitting, in consequence of the course the House had taken in the interval.