§ On the Order for Committee (Progress, Clause 1, 30th May),
§ *MR. SEYMOUR KEAY, in answer to Mr. Speaker, said, that the Motion he wished to make was that the Committee be now taken for the purpose of passing the Bill through Committee pro formaâ embodying the concerted Amendments therein, and then reprinting the Bill.
§ Several hon. MEMBERS objecting,
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid: This is an entirely formal proceeding, and it does not advance the Bill one jot. It is not, therefore, open to objection. It is entirely for the convenience of the House, and it is necessary that the Bill pass through Committee pro formaâ in order that the Bill may be reprinted with the Amendments. It has been held on a former occasion that such a matter is not open to objection.
§ The House went into Committee on the Bill.
§ Mr. JOHN ELLISin the Chair,
§ (In the Committee.)
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)I beg to move, Sir, that you do report progress.
§ DR. CLARKappealed to the hon. Member not to press his Motion. The Scotch Conservative and Unionist Members had agreed with his hon. Friend that this was not a contentious measure.
*THE CHAIRMANOrder, order! I am quite clear upon the point. Objection having been taken in the manner it has been, it is the duty of the Chairman to leave the Chair.
The House having resumed,
§ *MR. SEYMOUR KEAYOn a point of order, Sir, I wish to ask—
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLThere is no point of order.
§ *MR. SEYMOUR KEAYThe point of order I wish to put to you, Sir, is whether your ruling covers a motion to report progress made in Committee by a single objector for the purpose of preventing the amendments passing through Committee pro forma.â
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLMay I ask you, Sir, whether it has not been ruled, over and over again, that the Speaker will not take cognizance of proceedings in Committee?
§ MR. SPEAKERThat is true.