THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEESMy Lords, your Lordships will recollect that last year there was a Report of the House of Lords Offices Committee in which it was recommended to your Lordships, and the recommendation was adopted by the House, that a Select Committee should be appointed to inquire into the power and authority of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod. Accordingly I have placed on the Notice Paper for tonight a Motion for a Select Committee, 598 with the names of noble Lords who are willing to serve upon it, I would add that my noble friend Lord Camperdown has taken very great interest in this matter from the commencement, and I shall propose on a future day to add his name to the Committee.
§ Moved, "That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the power and authority which the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod exercises, and has in past times exercised, with reference to the appointment and control of the door-keepers and messengers of this House, and the origin thereof; and whether it is legally competent for this House to transfer such appointment and control to any other person."—(The Earl of Onslow.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ Moved, That the following Lords be named of the Committee:
| L. Chancellor. | E. Cawdor. |
| D. Norfolk. | E. Halsbury. |
| E. Liverpool. (L. Steward.) | V. Knutsford. |
| L. Robertson. | |
| E. Onslow. |
§ —(The Earl of Onslow.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ The Committee to appoint their own Chairman.
§ House adjourned at Six o'clock, till To-morrow, half-past Ten o'clock.