§ THE EARL OF WEMYSSsaid, he had often observed that on occasions when any subject of great interest was to be debated in that House it was very difficult to find seats on the Cross Benches. He apprehended that the demand for places on those Benches was not likely to be diminished, but to be annually increased. The accommodation was so limited on fighting nights that there was scarcely any possibility of getting a seat on those Benches. It was a very simple matter. The Cross Benches were so far apart that it would be perfectly easy to provide a remedy. Could not the noble Earl direct that additional Benches should be provided?
§ EARL GRANVILLEI am afraid the noble Earl has not addressed himself to the right person. Officially, I have no power to order changes in the distribution of the furniture of your Lordships' House. Individually, I rather sympathize with the late Lord Derby than with the noble Earl, as to the view which should be taken of the "Cross Bench mind." I am so old-fashioned a Party man that, while I am certain I prefer a good Liberal, I am afraid I also prefer even a good Tory to one who sits on the Cross Benches, and who is neither fish, flesh, nor good red-herring. The Cross Benches are usefully available for some Peers. The illustrious Members of the Royal Family, to whatever side their individual opinions may incline, most properly wish to avoid any appearance of being mixed up in Party dissensions. I admit that the noble Earl himself has a good right to a Cross Bench, because, although he invariably votes on one side, 850 yet I believe that, in his own Cross Bench mind, he equally and impartially condemns both Parties in the State, thinking himself alone to be in the right. No doubt some of our noble Friends have gone to the Cross Benches, and appear to have deserted the Party to which I have the honour to belong; but, notwithstanding their peculiar views on some points, we shall be most ready to welcome them back to the roomy Benches on this side of the House. There are others whose Conservatism is of so much more fossil character, than that even of the Opposition Front Bench, that I am sure they might be squeezed into some corner of the crowded space opposite. I am afraid I cannot help the noble Lord, who had better try some process of elimination than crowd the space with unnecessary Benches.
§ House adjourned at half past Six o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter past Ten o'clock.