§ On Fridays the House shall stand adjourned if at any time after One of the 525 Clock on the House being counted it shall appear that forty Members are not present.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this Order be a Standing Order of the House."—[The Prime Minister.]
§ 9.0 p.m.
§ Mr. TINKERI beg to move, as an Amendment to the proposed new Standing Order, to leave out the word "One" and to insert instead thereof the word "Twelve."
I object to the proposed new Standing Order because I think, in view of the time that the House meets, a period of two hours is too long to allow before a count can be effective. I think that when the House commences if we cannot get 40 Members present and a count takes place, the House ought to stand adjourned. To give two hours is too long. There might be something said for a little time to be given, although I do not agree with that. If time is to be given, I suggest that if we allow until 12 o'clock and we cannot then get 40 Members present, the House ought to stand adjourned.
§ Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERDoes any hon. Member second the Amendment?
§ Amendment not seconded.
§ Resolved, "That this Order be a Standing Order of the House."