DR. RUTHERFORDI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the situation in India, he will ask the hon. Member for the Montgomery Boroughs to remove his Motion, which prevents the House from discharging its duty to India, and in fact reduces the House at a critical period to a condition of paralysis and impotence.
§ MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs),on a point of order, asked whether the hon. Member was in order in imputing to him that he could possibly be influenced by any right hon. or hon. Gentleman in regard to taking off or putting on any Motion; and further, whether the hon. Gentleman should not have addressed his Question to him, in which case he would have had an Answer suited to his intervention.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANNo, Sir. I do not think that I can interfere in these personal amenities. My hon. friend ought to address himself to the hon. Member for the Montgomery Boroughs. But I would refer my hon. friend to the Answer I have just given to my hon. friend the Member for Walworth.
DR. RUTHERFORDasked if the Government would not take action with reference to these blocking Motions generally?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANYes, Sir, we are willing to do so. As I have repeatedly stated in answer to demands from the other side—strange coming from the other side—[Cries from the Opposition Benches, "Why?"]— hon. Members who are so anxious were not present in the previous Parliament, otherwise they would understand why— there is nothing more to be said on that subject just now. We are considering the best form of rule, but it will not be proceeded with unless it obtains the full assent of both sides of the House.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI do not see that they have much to do with each other. Perhaps, however, the word "blocking" suggests a connection to the hon. Member.