HC Deb 15 December 1911 vol 32 cc2706-7
Mr. PRIMROSE

I desire to ask, on a point of Order, whether, if the Bill which is down in the name of the hon. Member for South Birmingham (Mr. Amery) is introduced, the discussion on my Motion will be in any way circumscribed?

Mr. SPEAKER

It will be limited somewhat, because the Bill deals with the appointment of magistrates in the future. It is to provide "for granting powers to the Lord Chancellor better to give effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission" in the future. The Motion which stands in the name of the hon. Member and his criticisms—I will not put it higher than that—of the Lord Chancellor's action relate to the past, and to the methods in which the Lord Chancellor has carried out the recommendations of the Royal Commission. I think the discussion as to the future would be limited by the Bill.

Mr. PRIMROSE

Shall we be at liberty to vote against the introduction of the Bill?

Mr. SPEAKER

There is no question put.

Mr. KING

The Bill refers only to county benches. Surely the discussion with regard to borough benches will not be circumscribed?

Mr. SPEAKER

As far as the Motion relates to borough benches the question will be open.

Sir CHARLES HENRY

May I draw your attention to the concluding words of the Resolution, namely, "that the measures taken by the Lord Chancellor … will not remove the cause of the dissatisfaction." Does not that imply that in this Resolution we want to deal with future recommendations with regard to the magistracy?

Mr. SPEAKER

There is no doubt the hon. Member does desire to deal with the future, but that will be blocked if this Bill is introduced.

Sir C. HENRY

May I take it that we shall not be precluded from making suggestions as regards what we consider to be the best course to be taken in the future?

Mr. SPEAKER

Yes, you will be precluded from so doing.

Mr. T. M. HEALY

Would not the difficulty in which the hon. Member is placed be got rid of if he put down a Motion simply of condemnation of the action of the Lord Chancellor?

Mr. SPEAKER

No Bill could be introduced to block that, except, perhaps, one of attainder.

Mr. BRIDGEMAN

Would any discussion with regard to magistrates other than those on the county benches be in order, seeing that the Motion is limited to "the method in which magistrates to the county benches have been appointed"?

Mr. SPEAKER

We will wait and see how the matter develops.

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