§ Mr. A. WARD(by Private Notice) asked the Home Secretary whether the Government will give a day for the discussion of the proposal for a referendum on woman suffrage?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have considered this question, and I regret that I cannot, without the general consent of the House, ask the House to interrupt the proceedings in Committee for the purpose mentioned.
§ Mr. WARDAre we to understand that the attitude of the Government is due to the determination of the suffragists to block the discussion of this subject?
§ Sir G. CAVENo; the hon. Member is not to understand that.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSECannot this question be discussed in Committee on the Bill?
§ Sir G. CAVEThat is a matter for the Chairman.
§ Sir C. HOBHOUSEMay I inquire whether the right hon. and learned Gentleman himself would have been disposed to give assent to the proposal of my hon. Friend if it had not been for the intervention of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for St. Pancras and other hon. Gentlemen in this House?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have not seen or consulted the right hon. Gentleman the Member for St. Pancras.
§ Mr. PETOIs it not common knowledge that the Chairman of Committees has decided that the question of referring this matter to a Referendum of the people will not be in order in Committee on the Bill; and does not that decision preclude the possibility of that solution of the difficulty being either attempted or reached?
§ Sir G. CAVEI do not think that is so. But I am not at liberty to anticipate the decision of the Chairman of Committees on the subject. I have been told that it is possible that this Referendum Amendment will be ruled out of order in Committee. For that reason, if the hon. Gentleman came to me and asked whether we could not give a day for a discussion of the Motion on the Paper raising this point, I should have replied if it were the general view of the House that the-general Question should be raised in that way, I would, of course, assent. It would save me a good deal of trouble. But I do-not think I could fairly go out of the ordinary course of business, unless in the general view of the House I should do so.
§ Mr. PETOWill the right hon. Gentleman take some steps to ascertain what is the general view of the House, by not only consulting one or two members who are interested either for or against the Bill, but others?
§ Sir G. CAVEI will do my best.
§ Mr. WARDWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the effect of the-action of the Government will be to force the anti-suffragists into a position of general opposition to the Bill?
§ Sir G. CAVEWe must put up with that.