§ MR. WHITBREAD (Bedford)said, he wished to appeal to the Speaker on a point of Order. Owing to the practice which had grown up in the House of Members objecting when the Orders of the Day were read, it appeared to him the time between 12 o'clock and 1 was not utilized in the way the House intended when the Rule to close Opposed Business at 12 was adopted. He desired to ask the Speaker whether, supposing a Member who had charge of a Bill were allowed to make his statement after 12 o'clock, would that place Members who desired to oppose the measure in any worse position, or have less power of stopping Business after allowing this courtesy to a Member in charge of the Bill?
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid, the object of the Rule referred to was to prevent Opposed Business being entered upon after 12 o'clock.
§ MR. WHITBREADsaid, he must explain that his point was, whether a Member who objected to a particular measure would have less power to prevent it being proceeded with further, if, before objecting, he allowed the Member in charge to make his statement?
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid, the hon. Member was perfectly right in his suggestion; an hon. Member would not, under such circumstances, lose his power of objecting.