§ MR. BURNIE (Swansea, Town)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether during the Recess he will arrange for the Ladies' Gallery to be improved by better lighting, and by removing the wire caging in front of it?
§ MR. BODKIN (Roscommon, N.)May I ask whether it would not be likely, if this change were made, that the minds of the more youthful legislators in the House would be distracted from the more 1032 arduous duties that demanded their entire thoughts?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREPersonally, I should be in favour of removing the grating in front of the Ladies' Gallery; but as the question is one on which there is, I believe, much difference of opinion, I should not like to act without knowing what the general feeling of Members is. The subject, I think, may well be considered by any Committee that may be appointed with reference to the acommodation of the House. As to the lighting of the Gallery, that is a subject connected very much with that of the grille; but the present arrangements were made expressly with the intention of producing a subdued light.
§ MR. PICTONWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ascertain the opinions of the ladies before coming to any decision in the matter?
§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to consider the desirability of uncaging the married ladies? It should be recollected that, in consequence of the legislation of recent years on the subject of married women's property, they occupy a different status from that which was theirs when the grille was first set up.
§ MR. HUNTER (Aberdeen, N.)Could not the difficulty be mot by arranging for the admission of ladies to the general Galleries of the House?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREI think that the last suggestion is well worthy of consideration. I am myself strongly in favour of admitting ladies to the Strangers' Gallery.
§ MR. W. ALLAN (Gateshead)Is it not the fact that the ladies are uncaged in another place?
§ [No answer was given.]