§ MR. MITCHELL HENRYI wish to ask you, Mr. Speaker, to give instructions to the House as to a matter of great importance in reference to the keeping of seats. I beg you to give us instructions as to whether the putting of a hat on a seat, in order to keep it, does not mean a real working hat and not a colourable imitation, a system which allows a Member to deposit one hat and go about his business in another. I wish also to ask whether it is not against the Rule of the House for a Member to endeavour to keep his seat by putting therein pieces of paper or card instead of his hat?
§ MR. SPEAKERThe usual practice of the House has been that a Member may retain a seat for the night by placing his hat upon the seat before prayers. That practice has prevailed for a considerable number of years, and the idea has always been that when so acting the Member is in immediate attendance upon the House or on a Committee. With regard to the retaining of seats with papers or gloves, that has never been allowed. No Member can retain a seat for the night by placing his card or gloves upon it before prayers.