§ Mr. MORRELLMay I rise to a point of Order in reference to the private business of to-day? I understand, Mr. Speaker, that you were under the impression when the Corporation of London (Bridges) Bill was called no objection was taken to it, and that in consequence you ruled that when it is taken on Report it must be taken as an unopposed Bill. I very respectfully want to point out that not only had I notice of Motion on the Paper, asking that the Bill should be recommitted, but that I came down specially to this House to object to the Bill. I rose in my place to object to it as soon as I could, and a good many of my hon. Friends here heard me object, and immediately after I objected they, too, objected. I would, therefore, ask very respectfully whether as, in my judgment, the fault, if it is a fault, was in your not hearing my objection, you will reverse the ruling and allow us to have a Debate on this Bill when it is taken on Report.
§ Mr. DICKINSONMay I say I also was hero for the purpose of objecting formally to this measure, and when my hon. Friend raised his objection I understood that that objection had been accepted by you, for this reason, that you did not proceed, as usual, to take the voice of the House as a matter of form You did not put the question, "The Ayes have it" or "The Noes have it." I therefore assumed that you had accepted the objection.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Members, if I may say so, are in error in this matter. There was no question put at all. What happened was this: When the Clerk called out "Consideration of Bills Ordered to lie on the Table"—"Corporation of London (Bridges) Bill"—I said, as I was bound to do, "Ordered to be read the third time." After I had said that, the hon. Member, who, I think, was engaged in conversation at the moment that this was taking place, said, "I object." I remarked sotto voce to the Clerk, "The hon. Member is too late." That is all that occurred. The hon. Member was out of time in raising his objection. If he had raised the objection when the Motion was called and before I said "Ordered to be read the third time," then, of course, he would have been in order.
§ Mr. MORRELLI did raise the objection the moment the Clerk had spoken, and before you had said "Ordered to be read the third time." I have no sort of 48 doubt in my own mind that that is so. I was sitting in my place for the purpose, and, as soon as the Clerk had finished speaking I rose in my place and said, "I object." I was rather surprised you went on to say "Bill ordered to be read the third time." I would therefore ask whether you can see fit to take my word in this matter that I did say: "I object," and that, as I said before, if there was any error, the error was that you failed to hear my word.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am very sorry I cannot take the hon. Member's word. Of course, if I had the slightest doubt I should be very glad to do so; but I have my own recollection which is perfectly distinct as to what occurred. In my mind there is not the slightest doubt about the matter.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYWill you allow me, as one who witnessed the incident, and whose recollection is absolutely clear, that when the Clerk read out the Order the hon. Member was engaged in conversation, and it was not until after you had put the question that he objected.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODMay I say, very respectfully, as one of the hon. Members who was here and who were waiting for this question to be put in order to object, that the hon. Member did object at the proper time, and that I, for one, was surprised to hear from the hon. Member for Burnley that his objection was not allowed.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI am very sorry, but the hon. Members did not object in time. I can assure them that they are wrong, and if they will consult any gentleman in the Gallery (where the Parliamentary agents were seated) they will be assured by them that they are in error. But their position is not worsened in any way. The Bill will come up for Third Reading, and, if they wish, they can then move that it be recommitted, or, if they wish simply to discuss it, they can put down a notice of objection and will be able to discuss it on the motion for the Third Reading. I may repeat I should be very glad to accept their recollection if it were not that in this instance I am perfectly certain as to what occurred.
§ Mr. MORRELLI do not wish to continue this matter, but I want to have one point certain. I want it to be quite clear that when the Bill comes up for the Third Reading, and I object, I shall not be 49 objecting to the whole Bill, but only to the portion of it which I wish to see recommitted.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member can put down a Motion. He is not a novice in the House. He knows he can put a Motion down that the Bill be recommitted in respect of a particular Clause.