§ MR. J. MORLEY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)I rise to ask the First Lord of the Treasury a question with regard to the Allotments Bill, on the Paper today. The First Lord will remember that when the House was asked to consent to Morning Sittings, there was, I think, a distinct engagement given that Morning Sittings would be used for purposes of Supply. I want to ask at what hour, and on what grounds, the Allotments Bill was last night put down on the Paper for to-day, and on what grounds the arrangement entered into was departed from?
§ *MR. CHANNINGBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers the question, I wish to ask whether he is aware that the notice with reference to the Allotments Bill was not given in the Times this morning, the Daily News, or any other London newspaper to which hon. Members usually refer in order to ascertain what the business of the day is?
§ *THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH,) Strand, WestminsterI am surprised that the right hon. Gentleman has spoken of a distinct engagement to him or to the House as to the application of Morning Sittings. I must remind him I distinctly declined to come to an engagement as to the manner in which the Morning Sittings would be used. I said that they would be primarily used for Supply, but that we retained our liberty to put down for those sittings Bills which we were desirous to forward. This Bill was put down for this Sitting last night, standing, as it did, very high on last evening's Paper, and, that there should be no mistake, the President of the Local Government Board gave notice when the Order was reached, about 12.45 this morning, that it was intended to proceed with the Bill at this morning's Sitting. I really think that the right hon. Gentleman and his friends have no reason whatever to complain; and, as far as the hon. Gentleman is concerned, he was, I understand, in his place last night, and heard the statement made by my right hon. Friend.
*MR. CHANGINGI do not understand that anything was agreed to as to the Allotments Bill until after the arrangement was made.
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHThe Government announced, when the Order was reached, that they proposed to take it today at 2 o'clock, and when the question was asked whether it would be really proceeded with at 2 o'clock, my right hon. Friend got up and said that it would.
§ SIR W. HARCOURT (Derby)This is a question in which I take a great deal of interest. This attempt to snatch the Allotments Bill is one of the most extraordinary things I have ever known. It is quite true to say that when the First Lord of the Treasury obtained the Morning Sittings the right hon. Gentleman said that Friday should be taken 1420 for Supply, although it might be reserved in exceptional cases. That was the impression produced on my mind; and with reference to a Bill of importance, surely that meant that if the Morning Sittings were used for other purposes there should be adequate notice given to the House that such other business would be taken. It certainly was never intended that at 1 o'clock in the morning, when Supply had been put down on the Paper, and when all the newspapers reported that Supply would be taken, a Bill of this character should be taken without any notice whatever. Unless hon. Members have some particular reason for remaining in London, they very often go away on a Friday; and I am told that the hon. Member for the Rugby Division of Warwickshire (Mr. Cobb), who has the first Instruction on the Paper relating to this Bill, is not present, but is engaged in visiting his constituents, because he had no idea that the Bill was coming on for discussion. Does anyone believe that this arrangement will be satisfactory to the persons interested? The only knowledge I have had that the Bill was coming on to-day was the receipt of a postcard at 1 o'clock this morning from my hon. Friend the Member for East Northamptonshire (Mr. Channing). This is not the way in which the business of the House ought to be dealt with. I protest against the Government proceeding by means of a surprise with this Bill in the absence of a large number of Gentlemen who take a great interest in the subject. It is not fair to do so, neither is it according to the spirit of the understanding arrived at with respect to Morning Sittings. I was never more astonished than I was this morning when I received the postcard informing mo that the Allotments Bill had been put down for to-day.
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI should be sorry to see the time of the House consumed by anything approaching to a warm discussion. I still maintain the opinion that it was a reasonable arrangement to place the Allotments Bill first on the Paper for this day; but as hon. Gentlemen who take an interest in the subject desire further notice, I am quite willing that it should be given. Accordingly I beg to give notice that the Bill will be taken next Tuesday morning.
*DR. CAMERONI rise to ask a question on a point of order with reference to the business of the House. In the Blue Papers issued this morning I find that the Motion of the hon. Member for the Blackfriars Division of Glasgow (Mr. Provand) with reference to raisins and dried fruits, which stood for this evening, is entered as being "deferred from Friday, April 25, till an early day." The same observation applies to the Motion of the hon. Member for Crewe (Mr. M'Laren) with reference to the extension of the Parliamentary franchise to women. In the Blue Paper as issued this morning the first Order for the Evening Sitting is put down as Ways and Means, and there is no Amendment on going into Committee; but on the White Order Paper I find that the Motion of my hon. Friend the Member for the Blackfriars Division with regard to raisins and dried fruits replaced as an Amendment on going into Committee of Ways and Means. I therefore wish to know whether the Motion with regard to raisins and dried fruits, having been postponed from this day, it is now competent to put it down for to-day; and, secondly, whether, the Order Paper being clear of Amendments, it is competent for the Government to put down effective Supply and go on with it; and whether it is competent for hon. Members who wish to bring forward Motions on going into Committee of Supply to do so during the present Sitting, so as to enable them to raise discussion on questions in which they are interested.
MR. DEPUTY SPEAKERIt is unnecessary to answer the first question, inasmuch as I learn that the entry in the White Paper with reference to the Motion on dried fruit is an error. The statement in the Blue Paper that the Motion is deferred to another day is correct. As to the question of the power of the Government to put down Supply for this evening, it is undoubtedly within their power to do so; but it is not within the power of any hon. Member to-day to put down a notice of Amendment.
*DR. CAMERONMay I ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, seeing that no one could have anticipated that Supply would be brought on this evening, he will undertake to say now that Supply will not be brought on?
§ *MR. BRADLAUGHSupposing effective Supply to be taken, will the Government take Classes V., VI, and VII.; or will any other order of Votes be selected?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI should be lacking in my duty if I did not put down effective Supply for this evening, and especially when there are no notices of Motion to prevent the Chairman leaving the Chair. The Votes will be taken in the order in which they have already been proceeded with.
*DR. CAMERONI wish to ask, as a point of order, whether it will be competent for hon. Members, on the Question being put that the Speaker leave the Chair, to call attention to different matters in which they are interested?