EASTER RECESS (ADJOURNMENT). (Hansard, 12 April 1922)

§ Mr. HOGGE
I want to raise a point as to the form of this Motion which has been altered inside very recent years. I have been in the House only 10 years, and it has been done certainly inside that time. If we pass this Motion in this form, it means that when we begin to debate on the Motion for the Adjournment that any moment any Member may move a count, and those Members who wish to draw and raise questions lose their opportunity, whereas, if the Motion be in the ordinary form, "That this House do now adjourn," it is the duty of the Government to maintain a House in order that private Members may raise their particular points. It may be said, and it has been said on other occasions, that it is the duty of those who are interested in those questions to keep a House for their discussion. There are two arguments against that. The Lord Privy Seal will recognise the first at once. When asked to provide opportunities for discussion, he frequently replies that Members will have an opportunity on the Motion for the Adjournment. Private Members have very few opportunities of raising any question, and, if the Leader of the House invites them to raise questions on the Adjournment, I consider that it is the duty of the Government to keep a House to enable Members to do so. It only means the attendance of 100 Members, 100 Members being required to closure any Debate.

§ Commander BELLAIRS
We are not bound to stay.

§ Mr. HOGGE
I am quite clear about that, but I am surprised that my hon. and gallant Friend, who had so much difficulty yesterday in getting a question raised in which he was interested as a private Member, should suggest that any Member should leave before his duties are completed. The other argument is this. It so happens that in this Parliament I belong to a group of Members who are not numerically strong, and are 462 therefore unable to keep a House. That may be fortunate for other sections of Members, but I am not making my point from that view. I am making it from the point of view that there are such small parties in this House—and there are other parties smaller than our party— [HON. MEMBERS: "No, no!"] Yes, one has just walked up the Floor. However, my point is this: if it so happens that a party is not in a position to keep a House it should be the duty of the Government to keep it. I suggest that the Leader of the House, who has every confidence in the House of Commons, will agree that the rules of the House are not abused by Members generally, and will therefore be willing to revert to the former and more simple Resolution.

§ Lord ROBERT CECIL
Would it not be possible to take the general discussion on the subjects hon. Members desire to raise on this Motion, and in that way get rid of the whole difficulty?

§ Mr. SPEAKER
No, not at all. The only Question before the House is the day to which the House shall adjourn when it rises.

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN (Leader of the House)
I am profoundly surprised at the suggestion made by my hon. Friend opposite. When he becomes responsible for keeping the House on the part of the Government, I doubt whether he will volunteer to do so on occasions when it is not necessary. Unless we pass a Motion of this kind, the House must go on sitting until the discussion is exhausted. Otherwise hon. Members will merely be brought back to-morrow at the usual hour to take up the discussion again. I do not think the House would desire that. There is no difficulty in keeping a House so long as the question before it interests any reasonable section of Members, but there have been occasions in the past where virtually everybody has desired to get away, and yet, owing to the fact that the Government has not kept a hundred Members present, the discussion has been prolonged until a very late hour of the evening by one or two Members, to the great inconvenience of all other Members. I do not wish to interfere with the rights of minorities, but I would point out that majorities are entitled to a little consideration, especially in these days, when the strain of Parliamentary life is so 463 great, and its sittings are so constant and prolonged. There is one other observation I will make. The hon. Member appears to be under the impression that the House can be counted out at any moment as soon as this is carried.

§ Mr. HOGGE
After 4 o'clock.

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN
Yes, not until after 4 o'clock. Accordingly, if we dispose of this Motion at once, as we may very well do, we shall then have four hours during which the House cannot be counted out, and we shall also have further time during which it need not be counted out, if 40 Members have sufficient interest in the matter under discussion to remain.