§ MR. J. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in the event of the appointment of a Select Committee of the House of Commons to investigate the affairs of the South African Chartered Company, the Government, with the view of expediting the investigation, will initiate legislation for the purpose of enabling the Committee to sit during the recess and prorogation of Parliament.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Mr. J. CHAMBERLAIN,) Birmingham, W.In reply to the hypothetical Question of the hon. Member, I do not think the course proposed would be convenient or satisfactory. I have made inquiries, and I am informed there is absolutely no precedent for such legislation, and I think it might be difficult to get Members of the House to serve on a Committee which would be required to sit during the recess for the purpose of its Inquiry. ["Hear, hear!"]
§ MR. MACNEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there is a precedent in the case of a Committee of the House of Lords, which sat during prorogation and during dissolution.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI have not inquired into the precedents of the House of Lords. [Laughter.]