§ The PRIME MINISTER: I beg to move, "That the proceedings on Government Business be not interrupted this night under the Standing Order (Sittings of the House), and may be entered upon at any hour though opposed."
Sir H. DALZIELI very respectfully ask the Prime Minister whether he will reconsider his decision in regard to the pressing of this Motion. I understand the object of it is to enable us to take to-night the Report stage and Third Reading of the Special Commissions (Dardanelles and Mesopotamia) Bill. I think the Prime Minister will realise, after the very important Debate which we are likely to have today, that the House probably will not be in a position to devote its attention to the one or two important points which are likely to be raised on the Report stage of this Bill. I acknowledge that the Government have met the House on the whole generously in regard to the Amendments which have been put forward; but I would point out, as a result of our Debate on Thursday, that the Government themselves have thought it necessary to place ten new Amendments upon the Paper, and no private Member has had an opportunity at all of placing any Amendments on the Paper for the Report stage. The Bill was only issued this morning. The Government, therefore, are in a privileged position as against the ordinary Members of the House. I would also submit to the Government that there are several very substantial points which it was agreed would be raised in regard to this Bill. In the first place, four new names were to be added to the Commissions. We have not had them yet. They will be given to us after eleven o'clock tonight! I respectfully submit that we ought to have more time than is likely to be allowed to consider them. There is the further question with regard to the question of counsel and solicitors, which raised a good many points the other day. There are the indemnities and punishment for disclosure Clauses, which will require considerable discussion. I therefore suggest to the right hon. Gentleman that he might take this Bill to-morrow. We have not a very heavy day to-morrow, and it will be 2116 much better than sitting for two or three hours after eleven o'clock to-night. From the point of view of delay, one day more in an important matter of this kind will, I think, make no difference.
§ Commander BELLAIRSI beg to support the right hon. Gentleman opposite. After eleven o'clock at night there is often scarcely more than 100 Members present. I should like also to impress upon the Prime Minister that upon the Second Reading of the Bill he himself said that several points had been raised because the procedure was extremely novel. There may perhaps occur on the Third Reading of the Bill very important points which are not Committee points in connection with this extremely novel procedure, and the House itself would do well to take care that the Bill should go to the House of Lords in the position of having been adequately discussed by hon. Members.
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn regard to what the right hon. Gentleman behind me says as to private Members, they have just the same opportunities as the Government of putting down Amendments.
§ The PRIME MINISTERStill, I do not want to go into that. I thought I was only responding to the general desire of the House. I am quite willing, "however, that the Bill should stand over till tomorrow.
§ Question put, and agreed to.