BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 12 June 1931)

§ Mr. G. HARDIE
I want to move the Second Reading of the Petroleum Bill.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER (Sir Robert Young)
The Adjournment has been moved from the Front Bench.

§ Mr. HARDIE
I want to raise a point of Order on that. Is there a difference and a distinction between the occupants of the Front Bench and those who occupy the back benches?

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER
Which Bill does the hon. Member want to move?

§ Mr. HARDIE
The Petroleum Bill.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER
It is not the next Order.

§ Mr. HARDIE
I know that it is not, but as far as I have read the Rules of the House the Front Bench——

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER
Immediately the Government Orders have been read, it is in the power of the Front 1400 Bench to move the Adjournment of the House. That was done, and I accepted it.

§ Viscount WOLMER
On the Motion for the Adjournment, I should like to make another point. I am speaking from the point of view of those Members who have put down the Cathedrals Measure, which has been before the House for some time. We have to get that Measure under the Enabling Act. We have been reproached in the past with bringing these Measures forward at a late hour at night, but that is not due to the absence of any desire of ours to get the Government to give us time. The Government are unable to give us time, so we hoped that we might get it discussed at a reasonable hour by putting it down on a Friday, and now the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury has moved the Adjournment of the House.

§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. T. Kennedy)
The Noble Lord knows that this Motion would have to compete with prior Orders, which would take us at least till four o'clock.

§ Viscount WOLMER
I know that the prior Orders would come first, but I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will help us to take these Measures at an earlier time. We shall have to put this one down for eleven o'clock on Monday. The hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) desires to discuss the Measure, but I do not think that it is opposed. I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will let us get in on Monday.

§ Mr. KENNEDY
I have already given that assurance.

§ Mr. KELLY
May I ask, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, if it is within the Standing Orders that Measures which appear in the later part of the Order Paper may not be taken unless they are first of all read out from the Table? I put that point because I have known eases in this House, when Measures, which are put down on the Order Paper and are far removed from the particular item last disposed of, have been taken. I understand from your Ruling to-day, however, that because four Orders before the Petroleum Bill were not dealt with, the Petroleum Bill cannot be moved.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER
I ruled that when the Government business has come to an end and the Adjournment of the House is moved from the Front Bench, I can accept the Motion, and I have done so.

§ Mr. KELLY
Did not the hon. Member for Springburn (Mr. G. Hardie) get his voice in first before the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, and is he ruled out because the Front Bench have moved she Adjournment?

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER
The hon. Member cannot move his Bill until it is called.

§ Mr. HARDIE
I have taken some trouble to study the Rules of the House because I realise the difficulties of private Members. This Bill deals with the safety of life. What I was going to say was to help and not to hinder. If it is difficult to consider the matter further, it might be taken into account another time. I want to know what is the position in regard to the rights of private Members. The calling of a Measure is not dealt with in the Standing Orders, At ordinary times we can take a hop, step and a jump from No. 2 to No. 9 on the Order Paper. It has been done on occasions. [Interruption.] I have seen 1402 it done in the House. What is the position if a Measure is an agreed one, as this one is, practically? We might know the position, so as to save Members having to sit here night after night waiting for a Bill to be called, wasting their energies and their time. All that could be avoided if there was a little more understanding, in place of one man being in a position to say, "I will tell you when the time comes what it is possible to do." I believe in being reasonable and crediting other Members with the same consideration that I claim to have myself.

Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKER
I have nothing to do with whether this is a contentious or a non-contentious Bill. I am not to know whether a Bill is contentious or non-contentious. All I am concerned with now is that a Motion has been submitted from the Treasury Bench and that I have accepted it. If the hon. Member has any submissions to make on the other point, he should take an opportunity of doing so through the usual channels.