§ Mr. O'GRADYOn a point of order, I wish to ask you, Sir, whether you are aware of the purpose of the Motion in the name of the hon. Member for the Kingston Division (Mr. Cave), to be brought before the attention of the House, as to the Archer-Shee incident, and whether it is not the fact that the contract was made between the two Front Benches; and, if so, whether you, Sir, were consulted in order that that might be allowed, the incident being of a rather minor character in view of the other pressing matters to be brought before the attention of the House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am afraid I do not quite follow the hon. Member. The Prime Minister offered a day for the discussion of the Archer-Shee incident, and I understand this is the day on which that discussion is to take place. Is there any impropriety, or anything improper in the hon. Member's putting a Motion down to reduce the salary of the First Lord of the Admiralty? I do not follow the hon. Member.
§ Mr. O'GRADYI ask whether you, Sir, as guardian of the liberties of private Members of this House, were consulted on the matter.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe matter does not concern me at all. To-day is a day allotted for Supply. The first Vote of Supply is the salary of the First Lord of the Admiralty. The hon. Member for the Kingston Division has put down a Motion to reduce it. It does not concern me.
§ Mr. O'GRADYWould your ruling be, Sir, in the event of this question being discussed on the Motion of the hon. Member for the Kingston Division, that it would be distinctly out of order, as it is a question not of Supplies to the Navy, but one of compensation to the individuals.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt does not concern me at all. The matter will take place in Committee of Supply. I have no jurisdiction over the Committee of Supply. It does not affect me in the least. The hon. Member must put any question he has to put to the Chairman of Ways and Means when he takes the Chair in Committee of Supply.
§ Mr. O'GRADYOn a point of Order. I that some strong protest ought to be made against the course of business to-day. I desire to ask whether it is possible for me to move the adjournment in order that the business I wish to be discussed may be discussed. I am sorry to trouble the House at all in this matter, but my reason is that during the Coronation festivities there will be hundreds and thousands of men and women and children of this country asked to rejoice while in a state of starvation. This House is an Imperial House of Commons, concerned with Imperial matters, and the incident that is to be raised on the Motion of the hon. Member for Kingston (Mr. Cave), though I do not want to minimise its importance, is still only an individual matter.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis matter cannot be raised now. If the hon. Gentleman objects to a reduction of the First Lord's salary he is entitled to vote in favour of it.
§ Mr. O'GRADYI do not object to the First Lord's salary.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThen the hon. Member can vote against the reduction when it comes on. I can assure the hon. Member it has nothing whatever to do with me. When the House goes into Committee of Supply the hon. Member can either object to it or support the Motion for reduction, and in reference to it can say anything relevant.
§ Mr. O'GRADYIs it possible for me to move the adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a matter of urgent public importance, namely that there are hundreds and thousands of men and women and children——
§ Mr. SPEAKERHow does the hon. Member make that urgent? The Coronation does not take place until the 22nd June, and these unfortunate people have been on the brink of destitution apparently for a great number of months; it has not suddenly arisen to-day, and is not a matter of urgency within the meaning of the rule.
§ Mr. O'GRADYMy point of urgency is that it is urgent that preparation should be made between now and the 22nd June in order that those people may be fed during the Coronation festivities.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEWill not the discussion of this particular incident, the importance of which I do not minimise for a moment, exclude discussion on general questions connected with the Navy?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must put that to the Chairman of Ways and Means. Certainly as soon as that particular discussion is completed other matters on the Vote can be taken.
Mr. BALFOURMay I ask, in reference to this subject as to the question of destitution, is not the proper moment for bringing it forward on the salary of the President of the Local Government Board?
§ Mr. O'GRADYI am not concerned with the Order Paper at all.