HC Deb 08 February 1913 vol 48 cc345-6
Mr. BOOTH

I desire to call your attention to the report of yesterday's proceedings. I am sorry I have not been able to give notice. I find in the OFFICIAL REPORT that the hon. Member for London University (Sir P. Magnus) moved to reduce the Vote by £100. He was specifically challenged by the Deputy-Chairman, who used these words:— I did not understand the hon. Member for Colchester to move any reduction of the Vote, but it is quite open to the hon. Baronet to move a reduction if he so desires."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 7th February, col. 281.] The Report goes on:— Sir P. Magnus: I beg to move that the Vote be reduced by the sum of £100. I cannot find any further mention of it and I do not know where this Amendment has disappeared. The OFFICIAL REPORT simply says that the hon. Member for the London University moved his Amendment. It says after that that the Committee divided. Original question again proposed. There is no further mention of the Amendment and the hon. Member for Gorton (Mr. Hodge) then came in and moved that the Question be put and then the main Question was put. I ask you, Sir, where the Amendment of the hon. Member for London University got to?

The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Whitley)

The hon. Member for London University announced that he was going to move the reduction of the Vote, but he did not move it. Therefore the original Question remained before the Committee.

Mr. BOOTH

I beg to draw your attention to the fact that the hon. Member for London University actually used these words: "I beg to move that the Vote be reduced by the sum of £100," and that being so should it not have been put from the Chair?

The CHAIRMAN

He would be entitled to wind up by moving the Motion, but he might have changed his mind during the course of his speech.