* LORD DENMANMy Lords, the suspension of a Resolution like this was opposed by Lord Redesdale, Chairman of Committees, in 1855, because no opposition, so late in the Session, could be of any avail. Since then, especially in 1879, when limited liability for banks was carried by suspension of the Standing Orders on August 14, and the Bill carried the next day by Royal Assent, all has been hurry. The noble Chairman of Committees said it would be better to have no Resolutions than to annul them afterwards. I think it should be possible for this House to go through all the business before it with due deliberation. I can only say that I have constantly advised Members of the Government to adjourn Parliament instead of proroguing it. There are several precedents for it, and if that were done there would, I assure your Lordships, be sufficient opportunity afforded for the consideration of business. On the 17th December, 1831, Parliament was adjourned to the 17th January following, and by that means obstruction and a great waste of time was avoided. I think it would be for the good of the country if the Government would at once announce that they are prepared to adjourn the Session instead of proroguing Parliament.
* LORD BALFOURMy Lords, a great number of Provisional Orders are on such minor matters as the alteration 238 of local boundaries, not being those of counties, and not sufficiently advanced to come before the House. I am not speaking from absolute information, but I think it most likely that this large number of Bills has relation to matters which are the subject of local inquiry. The House will agree that it is, under any circumstances, exceedingly difficult for those who have to pass Provisional Orders Confirmation Bills through the House to comply with the very stringent Sessional Orders, and it is only with very great difficulty that they can be complied with at all. They are exceedingly stringent. I quite agree with the noble Lord the Chairman of Committees that it is undesirable to continue the Standing Orders. I venture to think it would be very desirable for next Session, before the next Sessional Orders are passed, to consider whether the time should not be extended.
* LORD DENMANThe necessity for supplementing the Local Government Bill shows how hastily it was carried. I wish no such Resolution hid been passed at all.
THE EARL OF MILLTOWNIt was suggested that the Provisional Orders Bills, which your Lordships know are not discussed at any very great length by this House, should be considered by the Standing Committee, but since that time not a single Provisional Orders Bill has been sent to the Standing Committee. As no ono seems to know very much about them, I venture to suggest to the noble Viscount that he should send them to the Committee on General Purposes.