§ MR. J. STEVENSON (South Shields)presented a Petition from General Booth, Mrs. Booth, and other officials of the Salvation Army and other persons, numbering 456,500, stating that they had heard with satisfaction that the Bill for Closing Public Houses on Sunday was now before the House, and praying the House to pass the measure before the close of the present Session.
§ * ADMIRAL FIELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)I rise to order. I wish to ask your ruling, Sir, on a matter of some importance. I wish to ask whether the hon. Gentleman who has presented the Petition can be said to have complied with the Standing Order of the House, which requires that he should have read the document and satisfied himself that it is not printed, and that it concludes with a prayer, and acquainted himself with the genuineness of the signatures 693 attached to the Petition which, I am told, is three miles long?
§ * MR. SPEAKERThis is not the proper place for entering into that matter, which will come before the proper tribunal—namely, the Select Committee on Petitions.
§ Ordered, that the Petition do lie upon the Table.