HC Deb 21 May 1896 vol 41 cc210-1
THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

With the leave of the House, I beg to move:— That this House at its rising do adjourn till Monday 1st June, and that so soon as Government Business is disposed of Mr. Speaker do adjourn the House without Question put. I may say that Government business means simply naming the days on which Government Bills are to be put down.

*SIR CHARLES DILKE

asked whether there was any precedent for this Motion being made at the same sitting. He had always thought that the notice had to be given on one occasion for a future sitting. He did not raise this as a mere technical point, but because sometimes the Motion for adjournment afforded an opportunity for an important Debate on foreign affairs or other matters, and if this became a precedent the Motion might be made at 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning, and the minority would be precluded from discussing a matter they were anxious to discuss.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

Perhaps the right hon. Baronet ought rather to put the question of order to the Speaker. I have made such inquiries as have been within my power, and I am given to understand there are precedents which bear out the course we are now pursuing. That course in itself is obviously an expedient one, otherwise we should have to commence a new sitting with prayers merely for the purpose of adjourning. Probably the right hon. Baronet's protest against this being made a usual procedure will be sufficient.

MR. DALZIEL

, who was received with loud cries of "Agreed," said, he understood the right hon. Gentleman to say ''by leave,'' which showed that he recognised the right of the House to object.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

No. I used the words "by leave," because the more natural time for the Motion would have been after the Orders of the day; but then Mr. Speaker would leave the Chair automatically and there would be no opportunity for making any Motion.

*SIR C. DILKE

said, he would not carry his objection any further if it were thoroughly understood that it was not to be drawn into a precedent on any future occasion.

*MR. SPEAKER

There are precedents for the course which has been taken.

Motion put, and agreed to.

The Government Bills on the Order Paper were then gone through, and their subsequent stages fixed as followeth:—