HL Deb 26 February 1886 vol 302 cc1350-2
THE EARL OF REDESDALE

moved the appointment of the Select Com- mittee on the Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments and Office of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod; and that the Lords following be named of the Committee:—

Ld. Chancellor. E. Camperdown.
Ld. President. E. Granville.
D. Richmond. E. Kimberley.
D. Saint Albans. E. Redesdale.
D. Bedford. E. Lathom.
M. Salisbury. V. Hawarden.
M. Bath. V. Hardinge.
Ld. Steward. V. Eversley.
E. Devon. Ld. Chamberlain.
E. Tankerville. L. Monson.
E. Carnarvon. L. Colchester.
E. Belmore. L. Ker.
E. Harrowby. L. Aveland.
E. Bradford. L. Colville of Culross.
THE EARL OF LIMERICK

said, he hoped that the Committee that would be appointed would pay some attention to the ventilation of the House. Before their Lordships entered the House this evening not only was the atmosphere bad, but it was foul and fetid. The system by which the House was ventilated was so extremely scientific that no one could understand it. The mode of ventilation was by pumping up cold air under their Lordships' feet, while their heads were swimming in an atmosphere of a very disagreeable character. That was a state of things which he did not think could be beneficial to anyone but their Lordships' sons; but, in his opinion, changes in the constitution of the House ought to be made gradually. He hoped, therefore, it would be part of the duty of the Committee to take some steps to improve the ventilation.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HERSCHELL)

said, he observed that he was proposed as one of the Members of the Committee. If he found that the subject came within the jurisdiction of the Committee, nothing would give him more satisfaction than to press on the attention of the Committee, or of any other authority, the question to which the noble Earl had called attention. It would be his lot to sit in that House for many hours of the day besides those during which their Lordships were present. He had had some experience of that atmosphere, for he had spent many hours and many days, year after year, at one end of the Chamber, and he never spent a day there without returning home with a headache which he had never felt when he had been before any other tribunal. Therefore, the question of the ventilation of the House to which the noble Earl had called attention was deeply impressed upon his mind. So far as he had any say in the matter, attention would be paid to it.

Motion agreed to.

House adjourned at Five o'clock, to Monday next, a quarter before Eleven o'clock.