§ MR. BIGGAR, in rising to move—
That the Standing Order of the 27th November 1882, relating to Putting the Question, be amended by leaving out the following words, 'it shall appear to Mr. Speaker, or to the Chairman of Ways and Means in a Committee of the whole House, during any Debate, that the subject has been adequately discussed, and that it is the evident sense of the House, or of the Committee, that the Question be now put, he may so inform the House or the Committee, and, if a Motion be made 'That the Question be now put,'" and inserting the following words instead, "a Minister of the Crown shall declare to the House, or to a Committee of the whole House, during any Debate, that, in his opinion, the subject has been adequately discussed, and that it is the evident sense of the House, or of the Committee, that the Question be now put, and shall thereupon make a Motion, "That the Question be now put.'said, the Amendment prevented the necessity of the Speaker or the Chairman of Ways and Means coming into conflict with any Member of the House or any section of the House. That was a very unfortunate position for the Speaker or the Chairman to be in, especially as it was the special function of those Officials to protect the minority in that House. The position of a Speaker and a Chairman should be purely judicial, and all such things as allegations of Party or partizanship should be avoided as far as possible by those functionaries.
§ Notice taken, that 40 Members were not present; House counted, and 40 Members not being present,
§ House adjourned at Eleven o'clock.