§ SIR WILFRID LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)I wish, Sir, to ask a Question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for North Armagh (Colonel Saunderson) which concerns the order and regularity of our proceedings in this House. It is, whether a statement attributed to him has any sort of correctness about it. It is stated in The St. Stephen's Review of last week that the hon. and gallant Gentleman stated to an interviewer——
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! I think this is exceeding the usual limits of a Question so ask an hon. Member of this House what he stated outside the House.
§ An hon. MEMBER: It is in regard to the House.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONOf course, Sir, I bow to your ruling immediately; but the Question relates to a statement alleged to have been made by the hon. and gallant Member as to what he would do in this House. Of course, if you say I am out of Order, I will sit down. I only wish to explain the purport of my Question.
§ COLONEL SAUNDERSON (Armagh, N.)Am I in Order, Sir, in answering the Question?
§ MR. SPEAKERThe Question of the hon. Baronet is as to a statement of what the hon. and gallant Gentleman would do in a certain case. I think it would be better to wait until the hon. and gallant Gentleman has done something.
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)May I ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he has received a letter in the terms of one stated to have 1383 been sent to him by the hon. and galland Member?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)I have not the Slightest idea to what the hon. Gentleman refers. I do not know what the latter is; what the terms are; and I have not seen The St. Stephen's Review, and I do not know anything about it. I must appeal to hon. Gentlemen to exercise a little more control, and not to ask Questions which are absolutely trivial.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)I wish, Sir, respectfully, to put a Question to you on a matter of Privilege. I would ask you whether the hon. Baronet the Member for Cumberland, if he desires to bring before the notice of the House a report as to a Member of this House threatening the infliction of physical violence on hon. Members opposite, and in the precincts of the House, he is not entitled to bring it before you as a matter of Privilege?
§ MR. SPEAKERI did not know what the hon. Baronet was going to refer to; but I would make an appeal to the House not to allow the time of the House to be occupied with Questions of this nature. There would be no end to them.