RESOLUTION. (Hansard, 19 May 1884)

§ COLONEL NOLAN
said, he wished to move— That the Order with regard to Petitions be amended, by substituting six for five o'clock as the latest hour for presenting Petitions. As his Motion was for the convenience of Members, he would not inconvenience them at that period by making a long speech with regard to it. Some hon. Members who had Petitions to present sometimes found it very inconvenient to have to present them at 5 o'clock. He himself had brought up Petitions more than, three times without being able to put them in the bag in consequence of the limited time allowed to hon. Members for the operation. The hon. Baronet who had charge of the Petition arrangements was always very courteous, and, no doubt, would do what he could to meet the wishes of hon. Members, and would, if the House were agreeable, allow Petitions to be put in 795 the bag up to 6 o'clock. He hoped the hon. Baronet (Sir Charles Forster) would find some means to enable those hon. Members who might be busy elsewhere at the time at which Petitions were now presented, to submit those Petitions to the House.

§ SIR CHARLES FORSTER
said, the Government could, not agree to the Motion in its present form. The present rule had been laid down by the Speaker in order to save great inconvenience; but he quite agreed with hon. Members that the present method required some modification to prevent them, on their part, being put to inconvenience. He was anxious to meet the wishes of the hon. and gallant Member as far as he could. He would, therefore, suggest that the hon. and gallant Member should withdraw his Motion, and leave the matter in his (Sir Charles Forster's) hands. He would confer with the Speaker, and see what could be done for extending the time at which Petitions could be presented.

§ COLONEL NOLAN
said, the hon. Baronet's promise was perfectly satisfactory, and he would, therefore, withdraw his Motion.

§ MR. WARTON
said, that a quarter to 6 o'clock would be better than 6, particularly on Wednesdays.