THE EARL OF BELMOREsaid, he wished to call attention to the ventilation of the Committee Booms of the House. When the east wind blew the Committee Booms of the House became the very temples of the winds, to the great discomfort of the Members of the Committee and to the members of the Bar and others who had to attend in them. He had been informed that the windows might be made air-tight at a very small expense; and considering that the House 110 of Lords only cost the country the sum of about £3,000 or £4,000 a-year, after deducting the amount which it paid into the Treasury, to keep up, he thought the cost of excluding the cold air from the Committee Booms would not be grudged.
THE EARL OF LONGFORDalso suggested that improvements should be made. At present, when the windows were opened, there was an intolerable draught, and, when closed, a foul atmosphere.
§ LORD HENNIKERsaid, he would not follow his noble Friend (the Earl of Belmore) through all the points he had raised in his speech; but he must say, as one who had satin Committee Booms for many hours, that he fully sympathized with his noble Friend, and the noble Earl who had last spoken (the Earl of Longford), in their desire not to be obliged to sit in over-heated rooms when Business of great importance was before them. It might, perhaps, interest their Lordships to know what was the present system of ventilation in the Committee Booms, as he had taken the trouble that day to go into the matter. Under each Committee Boom there was a large arched chamber; through this chamber air was admitted from outside into the room by means of gratings all round the room, at the bottom of the high dado, and by means of gratings under the windows; and at the top of the dado, all round the room, there was an open space to allow the foul air to escape; there were perforated panels in the ceiling, and the cornice all round the room was perforated for the same purpose. When the foul air was carried up above the ceiling, it was carried away by a down shaft, the foul air being brought from both ends of the corridor, which communicated with the Victoria Tower. A fire was always kept alight there, and this and the draught drew away the foul air through the Victoria Tower. This system appeared to be perfect; but, from experience, ho would say it could not be said to be so. No doubt, noble Lords were often to blame themselves, as they were apt to open the windows—a noble Lord was very hot, and asked for the window to be opened, and so on. This disturbed the system of ventilation, and it might be that the opening of the window made the room more hot than 111 it otherwise would be. It was quite true, as Ms noble Friend had said, that one room in the House of Commons— he thought Room No. 13—had been altered in a satisfactory manner — so as to allow the windows to be opened, and to greatly improve the ventilation. However, his right hon. Friend the Chief Commissioner of Works (Mr. Plunket) would give his most earnest attention to the matter; and he would, in consultation with Dr. Percy—who looked after such matters in the Houses of Parliament, and than whom no one in England was a better authority on the subject of ventilation—do all he could to remedy the inconvenience complained of.
THE EARL OF MILLTOWNsaid, that however perfect the present system of ventilation of the Committee Rooms might be in theory, the result was discreditable.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Seven o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter past Ten o'clock.