§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That the Sitting of the House this day be held subject to the Rules and Orders in force with regard to the Sitting of the House on Wednesdays."—(Mr. W. H. Smith.)
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked, whether they were to understand that, if the Sitting were held under the Rules applying to Wednesdays, the Government would enforce the Sessional Order which enabled them to take the Report of Supply after half-past 5 o'clock, under which Order the House had been kept sitting after 6 732 o'clock on a recent Wednesday? On the preceding night a Vote of £68,000, in connection with superannuation allowances in Ireland, had been passed without a single Irish Member having the opportunity of saying a word upon it through the First Lord of the Treasury moving the Closure; and as many Members were interested in the discussion of the Vote, he thought the Report of it ought to be taken earlier than half-past five o'clock, if it were to be taken at all that day.
§ MR. SPEAKERruled the hon. Member out of Order in referring to these proceedings.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)said, he did not think he should be justified in interfering with the operation of the Rules and Orders of the House with reference to any particular Vote before the House. Hon. Members knew it was necessary for the Public Service that the money they had asked for should be granted. It was necessary in the public interest, in order that the Exchequer might meet the demands that were made upon it, that the Report of the Vote should be taken that evening.