§ [Sir DAVID BRYNMOR JONES in the Chair.]
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)By permission of the Committee I should like to make one or two observations with reference to the course of our proceedings. I think we may assume that the principle of the Bill, that of a compulsory contribution from the employer and the workman, combined with a compulsory contribution from the State, has been accepted, and that therefore the question we have to discuss in Grand Committee is one of detail. May I just say in reference to this that this Bill has been in preparation a very long time—going on for three years—and the Departments concerned, including the Board of Trade, have given the utmost possible consideration with a view to producing as workable and as water-tight an Act as possible. We have spared no pains in meeting those who are interested in the matter, one way or the other, and in discussing questions and Amendments which they have desired to bring forward. I have no doubt hon. Members will desire to bring forward other Amendments for discussion, but I hope the Amendments which will be put forward on behalf of the Government will meet a good many of their possible objections, and facilitate the progress of the Bill through the Grand Committee. May I say, I hope that hon. Gentlemen will meet my Amendments with consideration, and in that friendly spirit which it will be our desire, from the point of view of the Government, to meet such Amendments as they may put down. I am extremely anxious, as hon. Members will understand, this Bill being in no sense a Party Bill, that it should go through the Grand Committee and through the House in its amended form with general assent. I have looked at the Amendments on the Paper, and I would suggest to hon. Members—although I am anxious not to impose any undue burden upon them—that we might continue our sitting to-day until four o'clock; we could meet next week, in any case, on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and we could see what progress we make at the Monday and Tuesday sittings before deciding if it is necessary to have a sitting on the Wednesday.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI do not quarrel with any of the general observations made by the right hon. Gentlemen. I am sure that the proceedings of this Committee will be conducted, so far as we who sit on these Benches are concerned, in the spirit in which the right hon Gentleman has introduced to-day's proceedings. There will be no attempt at delay; there will be nothing in the nature of obstruction from these Benches, but may I venture to suggest, in the event of that being the spirit-in which the proceedings are conducted, we are entitled to ask the right hon. Gentleman to consider that we should have sufficient interval for lunch and, possibly, time for a smoke afterwards. If he would grant us an interval of, say, three-quarters of an hour, I think it would be found that that is sufficient.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDThere is a proposition that this Grand Committee should meet on Monday, but if the Bill is not going to be fought on party lines I think it might be advisable it should be borne in mind that a Monday morning sitting would be very inconvenient to most of us. If it is necessary to meet on Mondays, of course we should have to do so, but if it can be otherwise arranged I think it would meet the convenience of most hon Members.
§ Mr. SCOTT DICKSONI think that in fixing the arrangements for next week, it should be borne in mind that a very important Bill affecting Scotland stands adjourned until Wednesday. It is quite certain that none of the Scotch Members will be able to attend this Committee should it meet on Wednesday next. I trust the right hon. Gentlemen will keep that in mind in making the arrangements for next week. We hope the Scotch Bill may be disposed of on that Wednesday, and that other sittings will not be necessary for it.
§ Mr. BUXTONWith regard to Monday's sitting, would it meet the views of hon. Members if we met at twelve instead of at half-past eleven? At present it is really rather difficult to say how we stand. Part I. of the Bill is to be reported about the 21st or 22nd inst., and it is necessary that this part of the Bill should be reported somewhere about the same time in order to allow an opportunity for Amendments to be put down before the Report stage is taken. Consequently, our time is considerably limited in this respect. If we could come to a compromise to meet at a 1639 rather later hour on the Monday, I think it might be desirable, otherwise it might be necessary to sit on Friday, which, in many other ways, would be more inconvenient to hon. Members. Perhaps in the interval for luncheon I shall be able to find out what will best meet the views of hon. Members.
§ The CHAIRMANWith regard to the suggestion as to the luncheon adjournment the practice of this Committee has been to adjourn about half-past one for half an hour. I am entirely in the hands of the Committee, and should it wish to adjourn for three-quarters of an hour it can be so arranged. Under the special order of the House, the Committee goes on automatically sitting until four o'clock unless there is a motion for adjournment. With regard to the meeting on Monday, that also is a matter in the hands of the Committee, and it will be for the right hon. Gentlemen at the close of to-day's sitting to move that the Committee do assemble on whatever day, and at whatever hour may meet with the general approval of hon. Members.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIs it understood that we adjourn for luncheon to-day at a quarter past one?
§ The CHAIRMANI think we can settle that without a Division. Judging from the expressions of opinion I think we had better arrange to adjourn at 1.15 and reassemble at two o'clock.
§ Sir HENRY NORMANIf the question as to Monday's sitting is not settled, I would appeal to the right hon. Gentleman to bear another point in mind. I gathered from his remarks he thought it would be sufficient to sit on only three days in the week, and it might, perhaps, meet the convenience of a large number of hon. Members if we met on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays instead of Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. I gather that next Wednesday will be very inconvenient for Scotch Members, but that difficulty will apply to only one week.
§ Mr. SCOTT DICKSONI understand that is so.
§ Mr. BRADYMay I point out the inconvenience which will result to hon. Members from Ireland if the Grand Committee meets on Mondays. Many go over to Dublin and other parts of that country for the week-end, and a Monday sitting 1640 would involve their travelling back on Sunday night. While I have no wish to introduce a matter of personal convenience, I think it would be of advantage if the right hon. Gentleman could see his way to avoiding Monday sittings.
§ The CHAIRMANWhen the right hon. Gentleman makes his Motion for Adjournment to-day, these various points can be raised. In the interval there may be an opportunity for hon. Members to consider what will be the best arrangement.