§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That Mr. Speaker do issue his warrant to the Clerk of the Crown to make out a New Writ for the electing of a Member to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Portsmouth (South Division) in the room of Major Herbert Robin Cayzer, who since his election for the said Borough hath accepted the Office of Steward or Bailiff of His Majesty's Three Chiltern Hundreds of Stoke, Desborough and Burn-ham in the County of Buckingham."—[Colonel Gibbs.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYOn a point of Order. May I ask if this Motion is debatable, because, if so, I should like to address an observation to you?
§ Mr. SPEAKERYes.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYI think the time has now come when something should be done about this practice of asking the electors to elect a Member of this House, and, in order to suit the convenience of the Government, for that Member to apply for an office of profit under the Crown in order, as we all know, to vacate his seat to make way for someone else. Both parties are to blame for this procedure, my own party and the party of hon. Members opposite, and, no doubt, my hon. Friends above the Gangway, when they form a Government, willdo the same thing.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODYou do not speak for the Labour party.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYThe conditions to-day are different. We now have a much greater electorate, and it is well known that the constituencies resent this treatment. It is possible that nothing can be done at this moment, but I feel that the time has come when this question should be examined. I submit to you that it is against the Constitution of this country, and it is time to make a change.
§ Question put, and agreed to.