§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—[Mr. Chamberlain.]
Mr. THOMASI desire, on the Motion new before the Committee, to draw attention to the extraordinary procedure during the last three hours. The Whips of the Government gave a, clear indication to us in spite of every protest, in spite of all the representations, that the Government intended and insisted upon getting Clauses 1 and 2 of the Bill. That was the mandate to their supporters; that was the brutal instruction to us. We told them that they were not likely to succeed, 2334 but about two hours ago the Minister of Health said: We want to go on with the fight. Two hours ago I asked hint whether the time had not, arrived for adjourning and going home, and he said: As long as you want to fight we will fight. That is not our only complaint. There were two Amendments that we not only understood were in order, but you, Sir, knew were in order. Both Amendments raised an important point of principle that had not yet been touched.
§ The CHAIRMANIt has been ruled by Mr. Speaker that the responsibility must rest with the Chair.
§ THE CHAIRMANThe right hon. Gentleman will remember that on a Motion of that kind Mr. Speaker ruled in a most categorical way that the responsibility rested with the Chair.
§ The CHAIRMANMr. Speaker laid down that anyone can move the Closure at any time, and that the responsibility for accepting it rested entirely on the Chair.
Mr. THOMASThen our complaint is against the Closure being moved and accepted. I again repeat the grounds of our complaint.
§ Mr. D. HERBERTHas it not also been ruled that the Closure, having been carried by the House, cannot afterwards be criticised.
§ The CHAIRMANThat is so. I did not understand what the development of the right hon. Gentleman's argument was going to be.
Mr. THOMASIn answer to my right hon. Friend as to the Government's view of the course of the night's Debate, he answered clearly and specifically that, in his judgment, the Debate was conducted properly, without waste of time or obstruction. That was the answer of the right hon. Gentleman to the Leader of the Opposition. When my right hon. Friend pressed him as to the meaning of the word obstruction, he answered that he meant obstruction to the particular Motion that was then before the Committee. That was a few hours ago. At that time, there were four Amendments on the Paper which we as an Opposition understood and knew were in order. We expected them to be called, but, in the result, neither of these Amendments is allowed to be discussed, and we are prevented—
§ The CHAIRMANIt is entirely my responsibility. The right hon. Gentleman is perfectly in order in criticising the Government for wishing the House to sit all night, but when it is a question of Closure or selection, the responsibility is vested in me, or any other occupant of the Chair, by various Standing Orders. I am responsible, and it is open to the right hon. Gentleman to challenge me in proper form.
Mr. THOMASI have said all I want to say on that point, and I now come back to the Government, who are responsible for the existing situation—a situation that enables a Clause of the Bill to pass this Committee without a discussion. Again, in the words of the right hon. Gentleman, so far as the Government were concerned they were prepared to continue as long as we were. I want to say we are prepared to continue. Having made all the efforts to try and get the Government to reconsider their position, having sat and listened to all the pleadings of their own side, having seen the Minister ruthlessly turn down every proposal from his side and not attempt to answer most from this side, having gone from 3.45 to now through that procedure, we will be delighted to continue. I invite the Government to go on.
§ Sir G. COLLINSWe find, after 17 hours, that the Government have moved to report Progress, and I find myself for the first time in complete agreement with the Government of the clay to-day. I only wish they had moved to report Progress at an earlier stage so that we could have discussed more fully some of the Amendments standing on the Order Paper dealing with Clause 1. The Debate during the last 17 hours has been a very remarkable one. I can hardly bring myself to recollect a single Debate extending over 17 hours during which there has hardly been a single Member from the Government side who has supported the Government of the day. Over 200 Members of the Government have been in attendance throughout the whole 17 hours, and I must compliment them on their strict attention to duty. I only wish they had given a more full expression to the thoughts in their minds.
The only speakers we have had from the Government side during the last 17 hours have been Members who have spoken against the Government. I associate myself with the protests made by the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Thomas) in regard to certain Amendments on the Paper which have not been discussed, and I hope when the House meets after Easter we may have more time to discuss this Bill. May I draw the attention of the Minister of Health to the very unusual practice, which he has instituted to-day, of starting the Committee stage of a very important Bill 48 hours before the House 2337 rises. It has placed the House in a position of great difficulty, and perhaps the slow progress made by the Government may cause them not to take that step in the future.
§ Mr. STEPHENI want to join in the protest against the conduct of the Government in regard to this Measure. I think it is very unfortunate that the Minister of Health has taken the line he has with regard to this important business. In connection with the Economy Bill I think there is one point on which all the Members of the House are in agreement and that is the importance of the Measure in regard to the health of millions of the people of this country. It is said from the Government Bench that as a result of this Measure no evil consequences will accrue to so many of those millions of working-class people, and when the Committee has tried to take the opportunity of examining this question we find the Minister of Health is quite regardless of the opinions on the opposite side of the House.
It has been pointed out already by the hon. Member for Greenock (Sir G. Collins) that the course that has been taken with this Measure is a very extraordinary one—to try and take this Committee stage so close to a period of recess —and it seems to me that it is altogether in keeping with the general practice of the present Minister of Health. Everything in the House and every Measure he has been responsible for is characterised in so far as discussion in the House is concerned, by a callous disregard of the rights of the Opposition in the House. On more than one occasion there have been unpleasant scenes, and unpleasant circumstances have arisen in the House, because of the display of temper and the unwillingness on the part of the Minister to rise to the point of view of the Opposition. It has appeared to some of us that the only opinions that he considers at all are those which come from his own benches.
In the course of this Debate there have not been very many of those opinions from his own benches, but we have had a very long discussion, and in that discussion the Minister has spent the greater part of his time in replying to Members of his own party. I think that this Committee—the minority Members of this Committee have got certain rights and that it is 2338 not going to be to the advantage of the majority Members of the Committee if this Minister is allowed to carry on in the same callous disregard of those who, take a different view from himself in the House. When one of his supporters was speaking, because he pointed to the fact that this was a Bill meant to plunder the funds built up as a result of the moneys of members of the working class—
§ The DEPUTY-CHAIRMANI must remind the hon. Member that this Debate cannot be one of revision. He is confined to the terms of the Motion before the Committee.
§ Mr. BUCHANANOn a point of Order. Is the hon. Member not perfectly in order in reviewing the actions of the Minister which have caused the unduly long sitting and the circumstances in which we now find ourselves If he is reviewing the action of the House that has caused the present crisis, surely he is in order.
§ The DEPUTY-CHAIRMANThe exact Motion before the Committee is one to report Progress.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIf the circumstances which have led to the Motion to report Progress have arisen out of certain actions of the Government in keeping us sitting so many hours, is not the hon. Member for Camlachie (Mr. Stephen) entitled to criticise the actions of the Minister that have keep us sitting so long.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRSeeing that the motion before the Committee is that we report Progress, is not the hon. Member for Camlachie (Mr. Stephen) in order in questioning the Progress which we are going to Report?
§ Mr. J. HUDSONAs no progress is made unless we may review the actions of the Minister during the progress of the discussion, is it not possible to review the action of the Minister during that period?
§ The DEPUTY-CHAIRMANIt certainly would not be in order to discuss all that has gone on in the Committee during the Sitting. The only question before the Committee is whether we should report Progress—nothing more.
Mr. BECKETTThe difficulty is that many of us have these very serious matters to raise from our people who are being robbed, and owing to the very unfair action and mean action of the Chair—
§ The DEPUTY-CHAIRMANThe hon. Member must not cast reflections on the action of the Chair.
§ The DEPUTY-CHAIRMANThe hon. Member must not cast reflections on any occupant of the Chair. The hon. Member is still in possession of the Committee.
Mr. BECKETTWell, as I was not allowed to finish my remarks before, I do not intend to finish them now.
§ The DEPUTY-CHAIRMANThe hon. Member (Mr. Beckett) rose to a. point of order. I am referring to the hon. Member behind him (Mr. Stephen).
Mr. BECKETTMay I just explain that I did not address that remark to you, but to hon. Members opposite.
§ Mr. STEPHENI am sorry if I did not make plain that I had no intention of trying to repeat all the arguments used in this House for the last 15 or 16 hours. I have no doubt that I could make a fair shape at doing so, because I have sat on these benches for a good part of the Debate and have tried on various occasions to get taking part. I was only calling attention to a remark made by one of the supporters of the Government in connection with this Debate in order to draw attention to the way the Minister of Health reacted to the words used by one of the Members on the benches behind me. It was quite evident to us sitting here who were watching, that his face quite distinctly showed the marks of ill temper. I myself felt very glad that the hon. Member for East Aberdeenshire (Mr. Boothby) did not see the face of one of his Leaders when he was making his remarks. Otherwise, we might have been getting a new Member for the Labour party.
During these hours of Debate all the time the opposition was present in such 2340 large numbers that some of us had to sit on benches that belonged to either the Liberal or the Tory party—I do not know which—which are below the Gangway. Although we had so many Members there anxious to take part in the Debate right throughout the discussion, the Minister of Health treated the Opposition in the House with the utmost contempt. Now at this stage in the morning he has got the audacity to bring forward this motion to report Progress. He was very grandiloquent with regard to his preparations for fighting the opposition. He talked as if the legions behind him would prove themselves tireless and able for all efforts, but one Division after another showed that in spite of his brave words the strength of the forces behind him was melting away.
9.0. A.M.
In spite of the pledge that he gave to the House that he would go on fighting. we have now got this Motion, which a contemptuous confession on the part of the Minister of Health that he is sick of the fight, or, if he is not sick of it, the members of his own party are absolutely sick of it, and are not prepared to follow him any longer in the progress of the Measure. I submit that this is a most unfortunate position in which the Committee is placed. If want to know if any pledges that are given by the Minister of Health—any pledges given by Members of this Government—are worth anything at all—if they are going to be of the same category as the one we bad when the Minister was confident and feeling a little bit more fresh than he felt a short time ago.
I would submit that on a matter of this importance the Minister of Health might have shown more foresight and consideration. This Measure is one which is fraught with the utmost importance for many millions of people in this country. I also want to point out that the millions of these people are members of the working class. Because they are members of the working class that is no reason why the Minister of Health should think that the point of view of the opposition regarding the interests of these people should not be considered. Ever so many of the Members on these benches have had experience of the working of National Health Insurance.
2341 The same thing cannot be said of the Members on the Government side of the House. They know little about the Measure. They will know a little bit more before they are finished with the Measure in the House, and much more before they are finished with it in their constituencies. There are many of us quite confident that they will finish in their own constituencies by their constituencies finishing with them. In making this protest against the conduct of the right hon. Gentleman, and in censuring him for his pusillanimous conduct, which is somewhat contrary to the natural arrogance of his ordinary manner, I would point out that he has no right to treat the position in the way he has done, especially considering the fact that in the one by-election which has taken place since this Measure was introduced the people of that division plainly showed they were against this Measure and against the proposals of the Government. Here now, in the morning, he wants to report Progress, saying to himself, "I have got away with this Clause; I have stolen this Clause from the Committee; I have not listened to the arguments from the other side, I am afraid to. "That was the temper of the Minister of Health throughout the whole of the discussion. I hope he will give us some more definite assurance with regard to the future progress of the Measure: that he will be more considerate in dealing with the Opposition than during the present Session.
I want also to draw attention to the fact that this Measure is one of such importance that it would be far better if we could try to get to something like a real and satisfactory settlement; something that the Members of all parties would feel was an adequate dealing with the matter than is now possible at this time when we have got into this position. The Minister of Health might be prepared to make some amends, might be prepared to show some repentance for the way in which he has conducted himself during this discussion, by offering to the Opposition something better in days to come, by trying to arrive at something which would be comparatively satisfactory to the Members of the different parties in the House. On the Report stage one does not want to have any repetition of 2342 the kind of thing which has gone on during these hours. One wants to have a real attempt made on the part of the Government and the majority of the House to show some respect for the opinions and the knowledge and experience of the Members on these benches in connection with this matter.
We have heard a great deal said of the importance in foreign affairs of the Locarno spirit. If the Minister of Health had brought into the discussion some of the spirit that has been associated with the Foreign Secretary, at least, nominally, it would have been for the good of the discussion, and we would not have been in the position we are. I want to make the suggestion in the beet interests of the Committee and of all those who are going to be affected by this Measure, and also if he will allow me to say so in the best interests of the Minister of Health himself who, we are sorry, has not altogether done himself justice in this Debate, and has failed in a way that one does not like to see in one who has shown such promise. Garters are not to be earned in the fashion he has followed. I want to put it to him that it is never too late to repent. Let him remember the lines:
While the light holds on to burn,The greatest sinner may return.We are still hopeful of him. I want to complain to the Minister that we are always ready to take a very generous view of him.
§ The DEPUTY-CHAIRMANThis is rather beyond the terms of the Motion.
§ Mr. STEPHENIt seems to me since the Minister of Health has moved this Motion to report Progress, and since we are discontented with the way in which he has conducted the proceedings and the foresight which he has not displayed in dealing with the situation, I would have thought I was in order in alluding to various ways in which he might get back to more pleasant relations—
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAIN rose in his place, and claimed to move, "That the Question be now put."
§ Question put, "That the Question be 'now put."
§ The Committee divided: Ayes, 165; Noes, 94.
2333| Division No. 123.] | AYES. | [8.27 a.m. |
| Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel | Eden, Captain Anthony | Huntingfield, Lord |
| Ainsworth, Major Charles | Edmondson, Major A. J. | Inskip, Sir Thomas Walker H. |
| Albery, Irving James | Elliot, Captain Walter E. | Jacob, A. E. |
| Alexander, E. E. (Leyton) | Evans, Captain A. (Cardiff, South) | Kidd, J. (Linlithgow) |
| Alexander, Sir Wm. (Glasgow, Cent'l) | Everard, W. Lindsay | Kindersley, Major G. M. |
| Applin, Colonel R. V. K. | Flelden, E. B. | King, Captain Henry Douglas |
| Ashley, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Wilfrid W. | Fremantle, Lieut.-Colonel Francis E. | Lamb, J. Q. |
| Balnlel, Lord | Gadle, Lieut.-Col. Anthony | Lane Fox, Col. Rt. Hon. George R. |
| Banks, Reginald Mitchell | Ganzoni, Sir John | Locker-Lampson, Com. O. (Handsw'th) |
| Blades, Sir George Rowland | Gee, Captain R. | Looker, Herbert William |
| Bourne, Captain Robert Croft | Gibbs, Col. Rt. Hon. George Abraham | Lougher, L. |
| Bowyer, Captain G. E. W. | Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John | Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh Vere |
| Brass. Captain W. | Goff, Sir Park | Luce. Major-Gen. Sir Richard Harman |
| Brassey, Sir Leonard | Grace, John | MacAndrew, Major Charles Glen' |
| Briscoe, Richard George | Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. | Macdonald. Capt. P. D. (I. of W.) |
| Brooke, Brigadier-General C. R. I. | Greene, W. P. Crawford | Macintyre, Ian |
| Broun-Lindsay, Major H. | Grotrian, H. Brent | McLean, Major A. |
| Brown, Brig.-Gen. H.C. (Berks, Newb'y) | Gunston, Captain D. W. | Macmillan, Captain H. |
| Butler, Sir Geoffrey | Hacking, Captain Douglas H. | McNeill, Rt. Hon. Ronald John |
| Cadogan, Major Hon. Edward | Hall, Capt. W. D'A. (Brecon & Rad.) | Makins, Brigadier-General E. |
| Campbell, E. T. | Hammersley, S. S. | Malone, Major P. B. |
| Cayzer, Maj. Sir Herbt. R. (Prtsmth. S.) | Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry | Manningham-Buller, Sir Mervyn |
| Chadwick, Sir Robert Burton | Hartington, Marquess of | Margesson. Capt. D. |
| Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. N. (Ladywood) | Harvey, G. (Lambeth, Kennington) | Meller, R. J. |
| Chapman, Sir S. | Haslam, Henry C. | Merriman, F. B. |
| Cochrane, Commander Hon. A. D. | Headlam, Lieut.-Colonel C. M. | Mitchell, S. (Lanark, Lanark) |
| Cope, Major William | Henderson,Capt.R.R. (Oxf'd, Henley) | Monsell, Eyres, Com. Rt. Hon. B. M. |
| Couper, J. B. | Heneage, Lieut-Colonel Arthur P. | Moore, Lieut.Colonel T. C. R. (Ayr) |
| Courtauld, Major J. S. | Henn, Sir Sydney H. | Moore-Brabazon, Lieut.-Col. J. T. C. |
| Courthope, Lieut.-Col. Sir George L. | Hennessy. Major J. R. G. | Moreing, Captain A. H. |
| Crookshank, Col. C. de W. (Berwick) | Herbert, Dennis (Hertford, Watford) | Morrison-Bell, Sir Arthur Clive |
| Crookshank, Cpt. H. (Lindsey, Gainsbro) | Hills, Major John Walter | Murchison, C. K. |
| Dalkelth, Earl of | Hogg, Rt. Hon. Sir D. (St. Marylebone) | Nelson, Sir Frank |
| Davidson, J. (Hertf'd, Hemel Hempst'd) | Holbrook, Sir Arthur Richard | Neville, R. J. |
| Davidson, Major-General Sir J. H. | Holt, Captain H. P. | Newman. Sir R. H. S. D. L. (Exeter) |
| Davies, Dr. Vernon | Hope, Capt. A. O. J. (Warw'k, Nun.) | Nuttall, Ellis |
| Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset,Yeovll) | Hopkins, J. W. W. | O'Connor, T. J. (Bedford, Luton) |
| Davies, Sir Thomas (Clrencester) | Horlick, Lieut.-Colonel J. N. | Percy, Lord Eustace (Hastings) |
| Dawson, Sir Philip | Hume, Sir G. H. | Perkins, Colonel E. K. |
| Peto, G. (Somerset, Frome) | Shepperson, E. W. | Wallace, Captain D. E. |
| Plicher, G. | Skelton, A. N. | Ward, Lt.-Col, A. L. (Kingston-on-Hull) |
| Pownall, Lieut.-Colonel Assheton | Slaney, Major P. Kenyon | Waterhouse, Captain Charles |
| Radford, E. A. | Smith, R. W. (Aberd'n & Klnc'dine, C.) | Watson, Rt. Hon. W. (Carlisle) |
| Raine, W. | Smith-Carington, Neville W. | Wells, S. R. |
| Ramsden, E. | Smithers, Waldron | Wheler, Major Sir Granville C. H. |
| Rentoul, G. S. | Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) | Williams, Com. C. (Devon, Torquay) |
| Richardson, Sir P. W. (Sur'y, Ch'ts'y) | Stanley, Col. Hon. G. F. (Will'sden, E.) | Wilson, R. R. (Stafford, Lichfield) |
| Roberts, E. H. G. (Flint) | Stanley, Lord (Fylde) | Windsor-Clive, Lieut.-Colonel George |
| Roberts, Samuel (Hereford, Hereford} | Stanley, Hon. O. F. G. (Westm'eland) | Wise, Sir Fredric |
| Ruggles-Brise, Major E. A. | Steel, Major Samuel Strang | Wood, B. C. (Somerset, Bridgwater) |
| Rye, F. G. | Stott, Lieut.-Colonel W. H, | Wood, E. (Chest'r, Stalyb'dge & Hyde) |
| Salmon, Major I. | Strickland, Sir Gerald | Wood, Sir Kingsley (Woolwich, W.) |
| Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham) | Stuart, Hon I. (Moray and Nairn) | Woodcock, Colonel H. C. |
| Sandeman, A. Stewart | Tasker, Major R. InIgo | |
| Sanderson, Sir Frank | Templeton, W. P. | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Sandon, Lord | Thom, Lt.-Col. J. G. (Dumbarton) | Major Sir Harry Barnston and |
| Sassoon, Sir Philip Albert Gustave D. | Thomson, F. C. (Aberdeen, South) | Captain Viscount Curzon. |
| Shaw, R. G (Yorks, W.R., Sowerby) | Vaughan-Morgan, Col. K. P. | |
| NOES. | ||
| Adamson, Rt. Hon. W. (Fife, West) | Hardle, George D. | Richardson, R. (Houghton-le-Spring) |
| Ammon, Charles George | Harris, Percy A. | Saklatvala, Shapurji |
| Attlee, Clement Richard | Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon | Shepherd, Arthur Lewis |
| Barker, G. (Monmouth, Abertillery) | Hayday, Arthur | Shiels, Dr. Drummond |
| Barnes, A. | Henderson, T. (Glasgow) | Short, Alfred (Wednesbury) |
| Barr, J. | Hirst, G. H. | Sinclair, Major Sir A. (Calthness) |
| Batey, Joseph | Hirst, W. (Bradford, South) | Sitch, Charles H. |
| Bockett, John (Gateshead) | Hudson, J. H. (Huddersfield) | Slesser, Sir Henry H. |
| Bowerman, Rt. Hon. Charles W. | Hutchison, Sir Robert (Montrose) | Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe) |
| Broad, F. A. | Jenkins, W. (Glamorgan, Neath) | Smith, Rennle (Penistone) |
| Bromfield, William | John, William (Rhondda, West) | Stamford, T. W. |
| Bromley, J. | Johnston, Thomas (Dundee) | Stephen, Campbell |
| Brown, James (Ayr and Bute) | Jones, J. J. (West Ham, Silvertown) | Sullivan, Joseph |
| Buchanan, G. | Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) | Taylor, R. A. |
| Burton, Colonel H. W. | Jones, T. I. Mardy (Pontypridd) | Thomas, Rt. Hon. James H. (Derby) |
| Cluse, W. S. | Kelly, W. T. | Thurtle, E. |
| Collins, Sir Godfrey (Greenock) | Kennedy, T. | Tinker, John Joseph |
| Compton, Joseph | Kirkwood, D. | Townend, A. E. |
| Connolly, M. | Lansbury, George | Trevelyan, Rt. Hon. C. P. |
| Cove, W. G. | Lawson, John James | Varley, Frank B. |
| Crawfurd, H. E. | Lee, F. | Viant, S. P. |
| Dalton, Hugh | Lindley, F. W. | Walsh, Rt. Hon. Stephen |
| Davies, Evan (Ebbw Vale) | Livingstone, A. M. | Watts-Morgan, Lt.-Col. D. (Rhondda) |
| Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) | Lunn, William | Westwood, J. |
| Day, Colonel Harry | MacDonald. Rt. Hon. J. R. (Aberavon) | Whiteley. W. |
| Dennison. R. | Mackinder, W. | Wilkinson, Ellen C. |
| Duncan, C. | MacLaren, Andrew | Williams, David (Swansea, E.) |
| Dunnico, H. | Maxton, James. | Williams, Dr. J. H. (Lianelly) |
| Edwards, C. (Monmouth, Bedweltty) | Montague, Frederick | Williams, T. (York, Don Valley) |
| Gibbins, Joseph | Morris, R. H. | Wilson, R. J. (Jarrow) |
| Gillett, George M. | Morrison, R. C. (Tottenham, North) | Windsor, Walter |
| Gesling, Harry | Oliver, George Harold | Young, Robert (Lancaster, Newton) |
| Grenfell, D, R. (Glamorgan) | Palin, John Henry | |
| Groves, T. | Paling, W. | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Grundy, T. W. | Pethick-Lawrence, F, W. | Mr. Warne and Mr. Hayes. |
| Hall, G. H. (Merthyr Tydvll) | Potts, John S. |
| Division No. 124.] | AYES. | [9.15 a.m. |
| Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel | Greene, W. P. Crawford | Neville, R. J. |
| Ainsworth, Major Charles | Grotrian, H. Brent | Newman, Sir R, H. S. D. L. (Exeter) |
| Albery, Irving James | Gunston, Captain D. W. | Nuttall, Ellis |
| Alexander, E. E. (Leyton) | Hacking, Captain Douglas H. | O'Connor, T, J. (Bedford, Luton) |
| Alexander, Sir Wm, (Glasgow, Cent'l) | Hall, Capt. W. D'A. (Brecon & Rad.) | Perkins, Colonel E, K. |
| Applin, Colonel R. V. K. | Hammerstey, S. S. | Poto, G. (Somerset, Frome) |
| Ashley, Lt-Col. Rt. Hon. Wilfrld W. | Harmon, Patrick Joseph Henry | Pitcher, G. |
| Balfour. George (Hampstead) | Hartington, Marquess of | Pownall, Lieut-Colonel Asshelon |
| Balniel, Lord | Harvey, G. (Lambeth, Kennington) | Radford, E. A. |
| Banks, Reginald Mitchell | Headlam, Lieut.-Colonel C, M. | Raine, W. |
| Barnston, Major sir Harry | Henderson, Capt. R.R,(Oxf'd,Henley) | Ramsden, E. |
| Blades, Sir George Rowland | Henderson, Lieut.-Col. V. L. (Bootie) | Rentoul, G. S. |
| Bourne, Captain Robert Craft | Heneage. Lieut.-Col. Arthur p. | Richardson, Sir P. W. (Sur'y, Ch'ts'y) |
| Bowyer, Captain G. E, W. | Henn, Sir Sydney H. | Roberts, E. H. G. (Flint) |
| Brass, Captain W. | Hennessy, Major J. R. G. | Roberts, Samuel (Hereford, Hereford) |
| Braseey, Sir Leonard | Herbert, Dennis (Hertford, Watford) | Rye, F. G. |
| Briscoe, Richard George | Hills, Major John Waller | Salmon, Major J. |
| Brooke, Brigadier-General C. R. I. | Hogg, Rt. Hon. Sir D. (St. Marylebone) | Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham) |
| Broun-Lindsay, Major H. | Holbrook, Sir Arthur Richard | Sandeman, A. Stewart |
| Brown, Brig.-Gen. H. C. (Berks, Newb'y) | Holt, Captain H. P. | Sanderson, Sir Frank |
| Burton, Colonel H. W. | Hope, Capt. A. O. J. (Warw'k, Nun.) | Sandon, Lord |
| Butter, Sir Geoffrey | Hopkins, J. W. W. | Shaw. R. G. (Yorks, W.R., Sowerby) |
| Cadogan, Major Hon. Edward | Horllck, Lieut.-Colonel J. N. | Shepperson, E. W. |
| Campbell, E. T. | Hudson, R. S. (Cumberl'nd, Whiteh'nl | Skelton, A. N. |
| Cayzer,Maj. Sir Herbt.R. (Prtsmth.S.) | Hume, Sir G. H. | Slaney, Major P. Kenyon |
| Chadwick, Sir Robert Burton | Huntingfield, Lord | Smith, R.W.(Aberd'n&Kinc'dine.C.) |
| Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. N. (Ladywood) | Inskip. Sir Thomas Walker H. | Smith-Carington, Neville W. |
| Chapman, Sir S. | Jackson, Lieut.-Col. Rt. Hon. F. S. | Smithers, Waldron |
| Clarry, Reginald George | Jacob, A. E. | Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) |
| Cochrane, Commander Hon. A. D. | King, Captain Henry Douglas | Stanley, Col. Hon. G. F. (Will'sden, E.) |
| Couper, J. B. | Lamb, J. Q. | Steel, Major Samuel Strang |
| Courtauld, Major J. S. | Lane Fox, Col. Rt. Hon. George R. | Stott, Lieut.-Colonel W. H. |
| Courthope, Lieut.-Col. George L. | Loder, J. de V. | Strickland, Sir Gerald |
| Crookshank, Col. C. de W. (Berwick) | Looker. Herbert William | Stuart, Hon J. (Moray and Nairn) |
| Crookshank, Cpt. H. (Lindsey, Galnsbro) | Lougher, L. | Tasker, Major R. Inigo |
| Curzon, Captain Viscount | Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh Vere | Templeton, W. P. |
| Dalkeith, Earl of | Luce, Major-Gen. Sir Richard Harman | Thom, Lt.-Col. J. G. (Dumbarton) |
| Davidson, J.(Hertf'd, Hemel Hempst'd) | MacAndrew, Major Charles Glen | Thomson, F. C. (Aberdeen, South) |
| Davies, Dr. Vernon | Macdonald, Capt. P. D. (I. of W.) | Vaughan-Morgan, Col. K. P. |
| Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somerset, Yeovil) | Maclntyre, Ian | Wallace, Captain D. E. |
| Davies, Sir Thomas (Cirencester) | McLean, Major A. | Ward, Lt.-Col. A.L.(Kingston-on-Hull) |
| Dawson, Sir Philip | Macmillan, Captain H. | Watson, Sir F. (Pudsey and Otley) |
| Eden, Captain Anthony | McNeill, Rt. Hon. Ronald John | Watson, Rt. Hon. W. (Carlisle) |
| Edmondson, Major A. J | Makins, Brigadier-General E. | Wells, S. R. |
| Elliot, Captain Walter E. | Malone, Major P. B. | Wheler, Major Sir Granville C. H. |
| Evans, Captain A. (Cardiff, South) | Manningham- Buller, Sir Mervyn | Williams, Com. C. (Devon, Torquay) |
| Everard, W. Lindsay | Margesson, Captain D. | Wilson, R. R. (Stafford, Lichfield) |
| Fremantie. Lieut-Colonel Francis E. | Merriman, F. B. | Windsor-Clive, Lieut.-Colonel George |
| Gadie, Lieut.-Col. Anthony | Mitchell, S. (Lanark, Lanark) | Wise, Sir Fredric |
| Ganzonl, Sir John | Monsell, Eyres, Com. Rt. Hon. B. M. | Wood, B. C. (Somerset, Bridgwater) |
| Gee, Captain R. | Moore, Lieut.-Colonel T. C. R. (Ayr) | Wood, E. (Chest'r, Stalyb'dge&Hyde) |
| Glbba, Col. Rt. Hon. George Abraham | Moore-Brabazon, Lieut.-Col. J. T. C. | Wood, Sir Kingsley (Woolwich, W.) |
| Gilmour, Colonel Rt. Hon. Sir John | Moreing, Captain A. H. | Woodcock, Colonel H. C. |
| Goff, Sir Park | Morrison-Bell, Sir Arthur Cllve | |
| Grace, John | Murchison, C. K. | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. | Nelson, Sir Frank | Major Cope and Lord Stanley. |
| NOES. | ||
| Adamson, Rt. Hon. W. (Fife, West) | Dennison, R. | Johnston, Thomas (Dundee) |
| Ammon, Charles George | Duncan, C. | Jones, J. J. (West Ham, Silvertown] |
| Attlee, Clement Richard | Dunnlco, H. | Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) |
| Barker, G. (Monmouth, Abertillery) | Gibbins, Joseph | Jones, T. I. Mardy (Pontypridd) |
| Barnes, A. | Gillett, George M. | Kelly, W. T, |
| Barr, J. | Gosling, Harry | Kennedy, T. |
| Batey, Joseph | Grenfeil, D. R. (Glamorgan) | Kirkwood, D. |
| Beckett, John (Gateshead) | Groves, T, | Lansbury, George |
| Bowerman, Rt. Hon. Charles W. | Grundy, T. W. | Lawson, John James |
| Broad, F. A. | Hall, G. H. (Merthyr Tydvil) | Lee, F. |
| Bromfield, William | Hardie, George D. | Lindley, F. W. |
| Bromley, J. | Harris, Percy A. | Livingstone, A. M. |
| Brown, James (Ayr and Bute) | Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon | Lunn, William |
| Buchanan, G. | Hayday, Arthur | MacDonatd, Rt. Hon. J,R.(Aberaven) |
| Clute, W. S. | Hayes, John Henry | Mackinder, W. |
| Collins, Sir Godfrey (Greenock) | Henderson, T. (Glasgow) | MacLaren, Andrew |
| Compton, Joseph | Hirst, G. H. | Maxton, James |
| Connolly, M, | Hirst, W. (Bradford, South) | Montague, Frederick |
| Cove, W. G. | Hudson, J. H. (Huddersfield) | Morris, R. H. |
| Dalton, Hugh | Hutchison, Sir Robert (Montrose) | Morrison, R. C. (Tottenham, N.) |
| Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) | Jenkins, W. (Glamorgan, Neath) | Oliver, George Harold |
| Day, Colonel Harry | John, William (Rhondda, West) | Paling, W. |
| Potts, John S. | Sullivan, Joseph | Williams, David (Swansea, East) |
| Richardson, R. (Hougbton-le-Spring) | Taylor, H. A. | Williams, Dr. J. H. (Lianelly) |
| Saklatvala, Shapurji | Thomas. Rt. Hon. James H. (Derby) | Williams, T. (York, Don Valley) |
| Shepherd, Arthur Lewis | Thurtle, E. | Wilson, R. J. (Jarrow) |
| short, Alfred (Wedesbury) | Tinker, John Joseph | Windsor, Walter |
| Sinclair, Major Sir A. (Caithnear) | Townend, A. E. | Young, Robert (Lancaster, Newton) |
| Sitch, Charles H. | Viant, S. P. | |
| Slesser, Sir Henry H. | Walsh, fit. Hon. Stphen | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe) | Watts-Morgan, Lt.-Col. D. (Rhondda) | Mr. Charles Edwards and Mr. Warne. |
| Smith, Rennle (Penistone) | Whiteley, W. | |
| Stephen, Campbell | Wilkinson, Ellen C. |
§ Question put accordingly, "That the Chairman do report Progress, leave to sit again."
2346§ The Committee divided: Ayes, 163; Noes, 94.
2347| Division No. 125.] | AYES. | [9.21 a.m. |
| Acland-Troyte, Lieut.-Colonel | Grattan-Doyle, Sir N. | Mnrchison. C. K. |
| Ainsworth, Major Charles | Greene, W. P. Crawford | Nelson, Sir Frank |
| Altnery, Irving James | Grotrian, H. Brent. | Newman, Sir R. H. S. D. L. (Exeter) |
| Alexander, E. E. (Leyton) | Gunston, Captain D. W. | Nuttall, Ellis |
| Alexander, Sir Wm. (Glasgow, Cent'l) | Hacking, Captain Douglas H. | O'Connor, T. J. (Bedford, Litton) |
| Applin, Colonel R. V. K. | Hall, Capt. W. O'A. (Brecon & Rad.) | Perkins, Colonel E. K. |
| Ashley, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Wilfrid W. | Hammersley, S. S. | Peto, G. (Somerset, Frame) |
| Baltour, George (Hampstead) | Harmon, Patrick Joseph Henry | Pilcher, G. |
| Balniel, Lord | Hartington, Marquess of | Pownall, Lieut.-Colonel Assheton |
| Banks, Reginald Mitchell | Harvey, G. (Lambeth, Kennington) | Radford, E. A. |
| Barnston, Major Sir Harry | Handlam, Lieut.-Colonel C. M. | Ralne, W. |
| Blades, Sir George Rowland | Henderson, Capt. R. R. (Oxf'd, Henley) | Ramsden, E. |
| Bourne, Captain Robert Croft | Henderson, Lieut.-Col. V. L. (Bootle) | Rentoul, G. S. |
| Bowyer, Capt. G. E. W. | Heneags, Lieut.-Col. Arthur P. | Richardson, Sir P. W. (Sur'y, Ch'ts'y) |
| Brass, captain W. | Henn, Sir Sydney H. | Roberts, E. H. G. (Flint) |
| Brussey, Sir Leonard | Hennessy, Major J. B. G. | Roberta, Samuel (Hereford. Hereford) |
| Briscoe, Richard George | Herbert, Dennis (Hertford, Watford) | Rye, F. G. |
| Brooke, Brigadier-General C. R. I. | Hills, Major John Waller | Salmon, Major I. |
| Brown-Lindsay, Major H. | Hogg, Rt. Hon. Sir D. (St. Marytebone) | Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham) |
| Brown, Brig. Gen. H.C. (Berks, Newb'y) | Holbrook, sir Arthur Richard | Sandeman, A. Stewart |
| Burton, Colonel H. W. | Holt, Capt. H. P. | Sanderson, Sir Frank |
| Butler, Sir Geoffrey | Hope, Capt. A. O. J. (Warw'k, Nun.) | Sandon, Lord |
| Cadogan, Major Hon. Edward | Hopkins, J. W. W. | Shaw, R. G (Yorks, W.R., Sowerby) |
| Campbell, E. T. | Horlick, Lieut.-Colonel J. N. | Shepperson, E. W. |
| Cayzer, Ma). Sir Herbt. R. (Prtsmth.S.) | Hudson, R.S. (Cumberl'nd, Whiteh'n) | Skelton, A. N. |
| Chadwick, Sir Robert Burton | Hume, Sir G. H. | Slaney, Major P. Kenyon |
| Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. N. (Ladywood) | Huntingfield, Lord | Smith, R. W.(Aberd'n & Kinc'dlne, C.) |
| Chapman, sir S. | Inskip, Sir Thomas Walker H. | Smith-Carington, Neville W. |
| dairy, Reginald George | Jackson, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. F. S. | Smithers, Waldron |
| Cochrane, Commander Hon. A. D. | Jacob, A. E. | Somerville, A. A. (Windsor) |
| Couper, J, B. | King, Captain Henry Douglas | Stanley, Col. Hon. G. F. (Will'sden, E.) |
| Courtauld, Major J. S. | Lamb, j Q. | Steel, Major Samuel Strang |
| Courthope, Lieut.-Col. Sir George L. | Lane Fox, Col. Rt. Hon. George R. | Stott, Lieut.-Colonel W. H. |
| Crcokshank, Col. C. de W. (Berwick) | Loder, J. D. V. | Strickland, Sir Gerald |
| Crookshank, Cpt. H.(Lindsey, Gainsbro) | Looker, Herbert William | Stuart, Hon. J. (Moray and Nairn) |
| Curzon, Captain Viscount | Lougher, L. | Tasker, Mafor R. fnigo |
| Dalkeith, Earl of | Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh Vere | Tumpteton, W. P. |
| Davidson, J.(Hertf'd, Hemel Hempst'd) | Luce. Major-Gen. Sir Richard Harman | Thorn, Lt.-Col. J. G. (Dumbarton) |
| Davies, Dr. Vernon | MacAndrew, Major Charles Glen | Thomson, F. C. (Aberdeen, South) |
| Davies, Maj. Geo. F. (Somwset. Yeovil) | Macdonald. Capt. P. D. (1. of W.) | Vaughan-Morgan, Col. K. P. |
| Davies, Sir Thomas (Cirencester) | Macintyre, I. | Wallace, Captain D. E. |
| Dawson, Sir Philip | McLean, Major A. | Ward, Lt.-Col. A.L.(Kingston-on-Hull) |
| Eden, Captain Anthony | Macmillan, Captain H. | Watson, Rt. Hon. W. (Carlisle) |
| Edmondson, Major A. J. | McNeill, Right Hon. R. | Wells, S. R. |
| Elliot, Captain Walter E. | Makins, Brigadier-General E. | Wheler, Major Sir Granville C. H. |
| Evans, Captain A. (Cardiff, South) | Malone, Major P. B. | Williams, Com, C. (Devon, Torquay) |
| Everard, W. L. | Manningham-Bulter, Sir Mervyn | Wilson, R. R. (Stafford, Lichfield) |
| Fremantle, Lieut.-Colonel Francis E. | Margesson, Captain D. | Windsor-Clive, Lieut.-Colonel George |
| Gatile, Lieut.-Col. Anthony | Merriman, F. B. | Wise, Sir Frodrie |
| Ganzonl, Sir John | Mitchell, S. (Lanark, Lanark) | Wood, B. C. (Somerset, Bridgwater) |
| Gee, Captain R. | Monsell, Eyres, Com. Rt. Hon. B. M. | Wood, E. (Chest'r, Stalyb'dge & Hyde) |
| Gibus, Col. Rt. Hon. George Abraham | Moore, Lieut.-Colonel T. C. R. (Ayr) | Wood, Sir Kingsley (Woolwich, w.) |
| Gilmour, Lt.-Col. Rt. Hon. Sir John | Moore-Brabazon, Lieut.-Col. J. T. V. | Woodcock, Colonel H. C. |
| Goff, Sir Park | Moreing, Captain A. H. | |
| Grace, John | Morrison-Bell, Sir Arthur Cl've | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Major Cope and Lord Stanley. | ||
| NOES. | ||
| Adamson, Rt. Hon. W. (Fife, West) | Batey, Joseph | Brown, James (Ayr and Bute) |
| Amrnon, Charles George | Beckett, John (Gateshead) | Buchanan, G. |
| Attlee, Clement Richard | Bowarman, Rt. Hon. Charles W. | Cluse, W. S. |
| Barker, G. (Monmouth, Abertillery) | Broad, F. A. | Collins, Sir Godfrey (Greenock) |
| Barnes, A. | Bromfield, William | Compton, Joseph |
| Barr, J. | Bromley, J. | Connolly, M. |
| Cove, W. G. | Jones, J. J. (West Ham, Silvertown) | Sitch, Charles H. |
| Dalton, Hugh. | Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) | Slesser. Sir Henry H. |
| Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) | Jones, F. I. Mardy (Pontypridd) | Smith, Ben (Bermondsey, Rotherhithe) |
| Day, Colonel Harry. | Kelly, W. T. | Smith, Rennie (Penistone) |
| Dennison, R. | Kennedy, T. | Stephen, Campbell |
| Duncan, C. | Kirkwood, O. | Sullivan, Joseph |
| Dunnico, H. | Lansbury, George | Taylor, R. A. |
| Gibbins, Joseph | Lawson, John James | Thomas, Rt. Hon. James H. (Derby) |
| Gillett, George M. | Lee, F. | Thurtte, E. |
| Gosling, Harry | Lindley, F. W. | Tinker, John Joseph |
| Grenfell, D. R. (Glamorgan) | Livingstone, A. M. | Townend, A. E. |
| Groves, T. | Lunn, William | Viant, S. P. |
| Grundy, T. W. | Mac Donald, Rt. Hon.J. R.(Aberavon) | Walsh, Rt. Hon. Stephen |
| Hall, G. H. (Merthyr Tydvit) | Macklnder, W. | Watts-Morgan, Lt.-Col. D. (Rhondda) |
| Hardle, George D. | MacLaren, Andrew | Whiteley, W. |
| Harris, Percy A. | Maxton, James | Wilkinson, Ellen C. |
| Hartshorn, Rt. Hon. Vernon | Montagus, Frederick | Williams David (Swansea, E.) |
| Hayday, Arthur | Morris, R. H. | Williams, Dr. J. H. (Lianelly) |
| Hayes, John Henry | Morrison, R. C. (Tottenham, N.) | Williams, T. (York, Don Valley) |
| Henderson, T. (Glasgow) | Oliver, George Harold | Wilson, R. J. (Jarrow) |
| Hirst, G. H. | Paling, W. | Windsor, Walter |
| Hirst, W. (Bradlord, South; | Potts, John S. | Young, Robert (Lancaster, Newton) |
| Hudson, J. H. (Huddersfield) | Richardson, R. (Houghton-le-Spring) | |
| Hutchison, Sir Robert (Montrose) | Saklatvala, Shapurji | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Jenkins, W. (Glamorgan, Neath) | Shepherd, Arthur Lewis | Mr. Charles Edwards and Mr. |
| John, William (Rhondda, Wnt) | Short, Alfred (Wednesbury) | Warne. |
| Johnston, Thomas (Dundee) | Sinclair, Major Sir A. (Caithness) |
§ Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Tuesday, 13th April.
§ The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.
2348§ It being after half-past Eleven of the Clock upon Wednesday evening,Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERadjourned the House, without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.
§ Adjourned at Thirty-Two minutes after Nine o'Clock, a.m.