§ "to establish a domestic service commission; and for other purposes connected therewith," presented accordingly, and read the First time; to be read a Second time upon Friday, and to be printed. [Bill 169.]
§ Mr. ERNEST BROWNOn a point of Order. Is it in order, under the Standing Orders, for an hon. Member to speak in opposition to a Bill, mislead the Chair and the House into supposing that she was going to object to the Bill—in so doing preventing another hon. Member who did object to the Bill having an opportunity to speak—and then neither appoint Tellers nor vote against the Bill?
§ Miss WILKINSONOn that point of Order. Is it in order for an hon. Member to impute motives to another Member which are utterly and absolutely false?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIn these particular matters I have only to carry out the Standing Order, which says that I can permit a brief explanatory statement from the Member who is moving for leave to introduce the Bill and a brief statement from a Member who opposes it. What they do afterwards has nothing to do with me.
§ Mr. BROWNIs not the Chair the only protection the House has against a Member who does not play the game with the House?
§ Miss WILKINSONMay I seek the protection of the Chair against charges of that kind? My opposition to the Bill was a serious and considered opposition. I did not vote, and I claim that a Member has a perfect right to withhold his or her vote or give it as he or she may wish, without running the risk of having motives attributed. I claim your protection against these charges by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. BROWNFurther to that point of Order, is it not a fact that the hon. Member for Moss Side (Sir G. Hurst) rose and desired to object to the Bill, does object to the Bill, and told and voted against it, but was deprived of his 825 right to put his ease against the Bill, because the hon. Member, who did not vote, put her case?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have already said that whether a Member votes or not is not a matter with which I am concerned.