§ MR. F. S. STEVENSON (Suffolk, Eye)It will be in the recollection of the House that on Friday night, after the Resolution of the First Commissioner of Works had been agreed to, the Government, instead of setting up Supply again, as is usual in the circumstances of the case, proceeded at once to the Orders of the Day. On May 16, 1890, a similar occurrence took place, and the effect was to shut out a Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for Woolwich (Colonel Hughes). The Amendment to the Motion for going into Supply standing second on the 690 Paper on Friday night was a Resolution of which I had given notice, in order to call attention to the position of affairs in Armenia, and to elicit explanations as to matters disclosed in Parliamentary Papers recently presented. When the time came for me to move my Resolution I was in my place ready to rise, and the hon. Member for Aberdeen (Mr. Bryce), the Member for Stoke-upon-Trent (Mr. L. Gower), the hon. Baronet the Member for the Berwick Division of Northumberland (Sir E. Grey), and other hon. Members who intended to speak were present. The subject, however, could not be brought on in consequence of the action of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, who failed to set up Supply again. In the interests of private Members I wish to ask the Speaker whether Supply ought not, in the circumstances, to have been set up?
§ MR. SPEAKERThe cases mentioned by the hon. Member are not exactly similar, for on May 16, 1890, the Motion "That I do now leave the Chair" was withdrawn, whilst on Friday last the Motion was superseded by the Amendment which was carried. Having pointed out that distinction between the cases, I have to say that it is not a matter of imperative obligation on the Government to re-set up Supply when the Motion "That I do now leave the Chair" has been superseded by the acceptance of an Amendment, but it is a matter for the discretion of the Government. I am bound, however, to say that when the Government refrain from setting up Supply again they generally so exercise their discretion at a later hour than half-past 7. Of course, half-past 7 is a very early hour at which to terminate the proceedings of this House; and, I must say I was surprised that the Motion "That I do now leave the Chair" was not set up again—so much so that the hon. Member will recollect that when the Motion was made that Supply be taken on Monday I called upon the hon. Member and said, "Is this with the hon. Member's consent?" Owing, perhaps, to some misapprehension of my question on the part of the hon. Member I did not obtain a reply, and I was therefore compelled to say again, "Supply—Monday." But the point is one which must be settled according to the discretion of 691 the House and Government, and I could not interfere.
§ SIR W. HARCOURT (Derby)I think that the omission to set Supply up again was probably due to inadvertence; but I ask for an assurance from the First Lord of the Treasury that in future private Members will not be prevented, as they were on Friday night, at so early an hour as 7.30., from drawing attention to subjects in which they are interested.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHUndoubtedly there was some inadvertence in the course which was taken on Friday; but if the hon. Member opposite (Mr. Stevenson) had expressed a desire to proceed with his Resolution the Financial Secretary to the Treasury would certainly have set up Supply again. My right hon. Friend, however, was under the impression that the hon. Member did not intend to persevere with his Motion. I assure the House that it is the desire of the Government to give every reasonable and fair opportunity to private Members. As has been said, however, it is not an invariable rule that Supply should be set up again; the Government can use their discretion in the matter.
§ MR. F. S. STEVENSONMay I explain that I rose on Friday to ask the Speaker's opinion on the course adopted by the Government. If I had been able to bring my Resolution forward more than a quorum of Members would have remained in the House.
§ MR. SPEAKERNo doubt the hon. Member did rise on Friday, but it was not until after the Orders of the Day on the Paper had already been reached.