HC Deb 06 June 1917 vol 94 cc290-2

Whereupon Mr. SPEAKER, pursuant to the Order of the House of the 12th February, proposed the Question, "That this House do now adjourn."

Sir C. HOBHOUSE

I wish to ask the Homo Secretary a question about the progress of this Bill. Some Members of the House attach very considerable importance to Clause 4, and I shall be very glad if the right hon. Gentleman will give me an assurance that, whatever may happen in the House, he will not take Clause 4 until after Monday, that being the day, I understand, fixed for the discussion on the Instructions to the Boundary Commissioners.

Sir G. CAVE

I think it will be for the convenience of the House not to commence the discussion on Clause 4 to-morrow. Therefore, if we should be fortunate enough to conclude Clause 3, we shall not take the next Clause.

Mr. RAWL1NSON

I wish to call attention to a small point. The Debate for Monday next is upon the Instructions to the Boundary Commissioners. Some of the Commissioners have fixed the hearing of appeals from their decisions for next Monday. The particular case which I have in mind is that of Hampshire, where very drastic changes have been made in the boundaries of the various constituencies. It is highly undesirable that such an important matter as that should clash with the discussion in the House. Many Members naturally wish to put their views before the Commissioners on Monday. Further than that, it is desirable that the decision on the Instructions which the House gives should be known to the Commissioners before they hear the appeals. My application to the Government is that they should see that no further meetings for hearing appeals from the decision of the Boundary Commissioners should be held until after the discussion next Monday. An adjournment for a week would not make very much difference, I presume?

Major COURTHOPE

My hon. and learned Friend has given a very strong argument for an individual instance, namely, the case of Hampshire, why operations should be suspended until after the discussion on Monday. But there is a larger and wider aspect of this matter. The opinion is gaining ground very rapidly during the last few days that the Instructions to the Commissioners are having this effect, that there will be a great disfranchisement of rural interests or a great reduction of the rural voting power in this House. I think there is something in it, and that the matter ought to come up on Monday. I would suggest that it is a reasonable request to make that the operations of these Commissioners in these country districts should be suspended until after the Vote on Monday.

Sir G. CAVE

I think there is some reason in what my hon. Friends have said. Of course, these are not appeals which are being heard, but preliminary inquiries by the Assistant Commissioners before they make up their minds. I think it is reasonable to ask that if there is a possibility of the House on Monday giving new Instructions, the Commissioners should reserve their decisions until after the Debate. I will make inquiries, therefore, of the Commissioners as to whether it is possible to adjourn the appointments for Monday in order to keep the matter open for ultimate decision.

Mr. T. M. HEALY

There is the women's suffrage Clause, in which intense interest is taken inside and outside this House, both by those, like myself, who are in favour of it, and those who are against it. It might be desirable to fix a particular day for the discussion of that Clause, so that everybody would know of it. That can be done by postponing the Clause until a fixed date, or the Government could announce the date on which they would take the Division. Those who want to support it in the Division Lobby would not like to be disappointed by reason of any long Debate on other matters, and if such an announcement as I have suggested could be made in the Press or otherwise, or if the Government could move the Adjournment till some day or other, I think it would be a great convenience to the House.

Mr. GULLAND

May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury whether if, by any chance, Clause 3 is finished at an early hour to-morrow, he will take any other business?

Lord E. TALBOT (Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)

Yes; we will put down the Second Reading of the Companies (Particulars as to Directors) Bill as the second Order in case Clause 3 be finished early.

Adjourned accordingly at Eight minutes after Eleven o'clock.