§ MR. WHITMORE (Chelsea)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, for the convenience of Members generally, His Majesty's Government will propose an Amendment of the Standing Order (Sittings of the House) that will provide that the House shall meet at 2.30 o'clock, and that Questions shall begin at 2.45 o'clock.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe change in our rules which my hon. friend, following the example of many hon. Gentlemen on both sides of the House, has from time to time suggested, would be, I believe, a convenience to a large number 667 of Members, and certainly a very great convenience to His Majesty's Government. I suppose there are no Members to whom the present rule is more inconvenient. I do not, however, propose to make any suggestions at the present time for the alteration of the rule. The disadvantage of making an alteration is clear. You will diminish by an appreciable fraction the most important period for our discussions. It is the afternoon sitting which is the most important portion of the day. I think it would be a serious thing to diminish that by the amount of time suggested by my hon. friend; and though, on full consideration, the House might come to a decision that a change should be made, and though I do not oppose it on principle, I do not intend at present to put any suggestion on the Paper to carry it out.