MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)asked the attention of Mr. Speaker to a Motion by the right hon. Member for Ripon on the fiscal question, which appeared on the Papers distributed to Members of the House that morning, in the shape of an Amendment to the I Motion of the hon. Member for North I Aberdeen. He wished to know whether a Motion of that importance could be sprung on the House of Commons as an Amendment with practically no notice whatever. It was said to be what was J called a "put-up job." An important I and highly controversial subject ought not to be dealt with in that way; if not improper as a matter of order, it was highly improper as a matter of convenience, and he hoped he might be successful in eliciting an expression of opinion that the hands of Parliament ought not to be forced on such a matter. Could not some steps be taken to prevent the House of Commons being dragged into such a discussion?
§ *MR. SPEAKERThe Amendment is in order. No doubt the subject matter of the original Resolution is of great importance as the right hon. Gentleman has said. The Amendment expresses different opinions, which, of course, are also of great importance, and must be if they are relevant to the Motion. The Amendment is relevant and that is the only question I have to consider. It is quite competent on the principal Motion for the right hon. Member for Ripon to propose an equally important Amendment.