HC Deb 27 March 1896 vol 39 cc280-1
MR. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

called the attention of the Speaker to a mistake in the Journals of the House. In the report of one of the Divisions on the Naval Works Bill last evening it was stated that the Chairman asked the Noes to stand up in their places, and in the list of the Gentlemen who so stood up appeared his name. As a matter of fact, he was not present in the House at the time.

*MR. SPEAKER

If the hon. Member mentions at the proper office that a mistake has been made, it will be corrected.

MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)

asked, whether it was not the rule, where the Chairman of Committees or the Speaker asked the Ayes or the Noes to stand up in their places, that the names of the Gentlemen standing should be officially taken by one of the Clerks at the Table, or by the official Tellers?

*MR. SPEAKER

I am not expressing any opinion on anything which has been done by the Chairman of Committees, who, I have no doubt, acted, as he always does, with perfect propriety, but, as I understand it, all that the rule really requires is that the Speaker or Chairman acting under that rule should have the names of the Gentlemen who stood up taken down; it does not prescribe any method.

MR. W. REDMOND

said that he was finding no fault with the Chairman of Committees, but he wished to know how the names ought to be taken down.

*MR. SPEAKER

It is not a common practice to enforce the rule, but it has been done on one occasion certainly by myself, and then two of the Division Lists were brought in from the Lobby, and while hon. Gentlemen were standing in their places their names were ticked off, and from that the Division List was afterwards prepared.

MR. FLYNN

was continuing the question, when

*MR. SPEAKER

said, I cannot listen to anything in the nature of an appeal in reference to what took place in Committee.

MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)

I was one of the Members who stood up, and my name was not in the list.