§ Mr. GREENWOODWith your permission, Sir, I want very respectfully to put to you the following question: Whether, in view of the fact that many Members habitually disregard that portion of the 2331 Rule with reference to taking seats in this House for the day—which directs that after placing a card on the seat selected, a Member shall not leave the precincts until the meeting of the House—you will consider the advisability of abrogating that portion of the Rule so as to place all Members on a footing of equality in that respect; or, if not, whether some operative sanction can be devised for such portion of the Rule in question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is no doubt the fact that hon. Members do come down at an early hour and take their seats. Indeed, I have seen them arriving and leaving at the suspiciously early hour of eight o'clock. I presume that they come and leave with some object, probably in order to claim the first call upon the seat. I regret that the Rule has been violated. I must point out to hon. Members that they render themselves liable to have their cards torn up in the event of it being discovered that they are not on the premises. I should be sorry indeed if that became a general practice or anything like it. It would probably only lead to disagreeable incidents. This is one of the Rules which rest entirely with hon. Members themselves to carry out. It rests entirely upon the bona fidesand honour of hon. Members. Before making any alterations, I hope, after the warning that I have given, that hon. Members will observe strictly the conditions upon which the cards are issued. If it should be brought to my attention again that the Rules are not observed it may be found necessary to abolish the card system altogether, and go back to the original system of a Member giving some more cogent evidence that he is present. Perhaps we had better leave the matter there for the present, and trust to the honour of Members to strictly observe the Rules.