§ MR. BRUNNER (Cheshire, Northwich)hoped the Speaker would permit hon. Members of advanced years to take their seats in the House on Monday before 12 o'clock. Unless such permission were given they were likely to he seriously inconvenienced, as there was certain to be a great crush at the door of the House at the time fixed for opening it.
§ *MR. SPEAKERsaid, that the hon. Member was endeavouring to impose upon hint a very invidious task, and one which he could not undertake. He hoped that there would be nothing in the nature of a crush at the door on Monday, and trusted that certain seats usually occupied by Members would be respected in accordance with the general custom of the House. The door would be locked on Monday morning and only opened at 12 o'clock, and precautions would be taken to preserve order—but he felt satisfied these would not be necessary.
§ *MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)asked whether the door was to be kept closed until 12 o'clock throughout the continuance of the Debate?
MR. CHILLY (Mayo, N.)said, that if the door was not opened until 12 o'clock on Monday there would be not only pressure, but probably some scenes, which they would regret. If every Member of the House were allowed the usual free access to the House on Monday 1224 morning all pressure would be avoided. The hour fixed for opening the door should, at any rate, be changed to 10 o'clock, when there would not then be such an accumulation of Members at the door as there would inevitably he at 12. He claimed, as a Member, that if he came to the House at 10 o'clock he should he allowed to take his seat.
§ *MR. SPEAKERsaid, he hoped the difficulty referred to by the hon. Member for North Mayo would not arise. He was committed to the hour of 12, which hour appeared to meet with the general approval of Members. In the circumstances, he did not think he could alter the hour. He hoped hon. Members would co-operate with the authorities to preserve order.
MR. MATIFER (Lancashire, S.E., Gorton)inquired whether chairs would be placed on the floor of the House on Monday? Such extra form of accommodation was provided on a similar historic occasion in 1886, and without it a considerable number of Members would not know where to find places owing to the certain crush.
§ *MR. SPEAKERsaid, that he would order chairs to be placed on the floor of the House if it was generally desired that that should be done. He would do all in his power to provide accommodation for Members of the House.