§ MR. SOARESI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will favourably consider a scheme for limiting the length of speeches on the days set apart for private Members during the remainder of the present session.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe House knows my opinion on the subject, and I have often expressed my sympathy with my hon. and gallant friend the Member for the Chelmsford Division of Essex, whom I do not see in his place. If a Resolution be moved on a private Member's night suggesting that on those nights speeches should be limited, I will take care that no influence of mine is thrown 998 into the opposite scale, and the House will be left to decide this delicate question for itself.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the longest speeches are made by Cabinet Ministers and the Member for Peckham.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not deny that even I may have been a sinner in that respect—
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDWe do not mind you so much as the Member for Peckham.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think in a long and varied Parliamentary experience I have heard lengthy speeches even from other quarters of the House.