§ MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottinghamshire, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he proposes to take steps to restore to the House that full freedom of discussing urgent matters of; public importance of which it has now been largely deprived owing to the operation of Motions placed on the Paper with the design of preventing such discussion.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI cannot say that in the matter of Motions for adjournment I have seen any extraordinary restriction on the use of the privileges of the House during the last few weeks. With regard to the Question on the Paper, I have more than once answered Questions of precisely similar import, and I have nothing to add to what I have already said.
§ MR. JOHN ELLISIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a Motion down which prevents a discussion even of the question of blocking Motions.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWe might have blocking Motion on blocking Motion ad infinitum. I do not see how the House could with advantage discuss the question of blocking Motions except in reference to some proposed amendment of the Standing Orders, and I have already explained that I do not propose in the present session to bring before the House any Rule dealing with the general question.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is nothing in the Standing Orders relating to this matter? It is a question of the general practice of the House. Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to give time for the discussion of a Resolution which would correct the practice of the House in order to avoid these blocking methods?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThere may be nothing in the Standing Orders, but it would require a Standing Order to correct the common practice of the House, and I do not think it would be desirable to give a day for such a discussion in the present state of public business.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)But the right hon. Gentleman has indicated his willingness to remove the effect of blocking Motions from Motions for adjournment for the holidays and other occasions of that kind. Will he say whether he will be able to bring forward a scheme for that purpose during the present session?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI could not find time for such a Motion unless it is passed with the general assent of the House and without discussion.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANWill the right hon. Gentleman put such a proposal on the Paper, so that the House may judge whether it can agree to it?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes, I think that is a very fair request.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will grant an opportunity to the Member for Coventry to bring forward the Motion that stands in his name in regard to labour in Africa. I beg to say I put this Question direct to the right hon. Gentleman at the special request of the hon. Member for Coventry.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR.My view is that of all subjects which the House has shown its desire to discuss, this, perhaps, is the one which has been most fully discussed during the course of the present session, and when I remember that it can be again debated on the Colonial Vote, it seems to me that it will be impossible for the Government so far to violate ordinary practice as to give a special opportunity for discussing a private Member's Resolution upon it.