§ Mr. BOOTHOn a point of Order. I wish to ask your guidance with regard to the second Order of the Day. I have to inform you that the Bill has not been printed and I cannot secure a copy. I should like to know whether under these circumstances you will call upon it or whether you will accept a Motion to adjourn the Debate.
§ Mr. SPEAKERMy predecessors have always held that the fact that a Bill has not been printed is not per se sufficient to prevent a Motion being made that it should be read a second time. But, of course, under these circumstances any Motion that the Debate should be adjourned I should certainly accept and I think the House would probably be prepared to accept such a Motion, as they could hardly be expected to commit themselves to the details of a Bill which has not even appeared in print. What I have said will apply in the case of a new Bill, the contents of which the House would have no possible means of knowing. I want to guard myself so far by saying that if it were a Bill which had appeared in several previous Sessions and the contents of which might be assumed to be known by the House the matter would stand on a rather different footing.