Lords Sitting of 11 December 1931

Preamble
The House met at twelve of the clock, The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDER (MAIDSTONE EX TENSION) BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1a; to be printed, and referred to the Examiners.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDER (SITTINGBOURNE & MILTON) BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1a; to be printed, and referred to the Examiners.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
THE EARL OF LUCAN: My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend the Leader of the House, I beg to move the Resolution standing in his name with reference to the adjournment of the House.
Moved to resolve, That the House on its adjournment do adjourn for business, other than Judicial Business, to Tuesday the 2nd of February next, except that if it appears to the satisfaction of the Lord Chancellor that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during such adjournment, the Lord Chancellor may give notice to the Peers that he is so satisfied, and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice, and shall transact its business as if it had been duly adjourned to that time.—[The Earl of Lucan.]
LORD BUCKMASTER: My Lords, this Resolution deals with the business of the House, and to its actual form no objection will be taken, but I think it is not an inconvenient moment to call your Lordships' attention to an interference with the Judicial Business of the House which has caused no small inconvenience to everybody engaged in assisting in that part of your Lordships' duties. During the last three days the judicial work of the House has been suddenly and vio-
508
lently interrupted without any communication being made in advance to the noble Lord who had the honour of presiding over its deliberations. That that was not due to any lack of courtesy on the part of the noble Viscount the Leader of the House is a thing which we all know. It was due to some oversight and inadvertence, but I do think it is a matter which needs some consideration. It might have been possible for us to come to some arrangement which would have prevented the very serious trouble which I think has arisen because of this conduct.
It is not merely the interference with the affairs of their Lordships themselves. That makes but little difference, though it may make some to those who are sitting administering the law, but it makes a very grievous difference to counsel who plead at your Bar and who do not know how they are to make their engagements, and still more grave trouble to those people whose interest above all others we ought to consider—namely, the suitors who come here and ask for your Lordships' protection. In the particular cases to which I refer it so happens that we have been trying cases from Scotland, two of them pauper cases, and in both those cases counsel have come down from Scotland, at their own cost and expense, to plead the cases of these poor people, and in no circumstance whatever can their expenses be recompensed. It may well be that this further interference may cause counsel to have to be here over the Saturday and Sunday, and in no circumstances can they be reimbursed their expenses. This might have been avoided by a little thought and consideration and I only mention it in the presence of the noble Earl in order that care may be taken to avoid such inconvenience in the future.
LORD MARLEY: My Lords, perhaps I may be allowed to say that we on these Benches have protested again and again against this emergency pressure of business, and the apparent unwillingness of the House to sit after dinner in any circumstances whatever. I cannot think it if reasonable to take that attitude, especially in the circumstances of which the noble and learned Lord has just spoken.
THE EARL OF LUCAN: My Lords, in reply to the noble and learned Lord I can only express my great regret that the House has been put to this inconvenience, and I can assure him that it is from no lack of courtesy, as he has him-self admitted, on the part of the Leader of the House. At the present moment I am not in a position to say anything more, but I can only assure him that I will report his objections to the Leader of the House, who I am quite sure will give him all satisfaction.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD SANKEY): My Lords, perhaps I may be allowed to express my regret that any inconvenience should have been caused not only to my learned colleagues who sit in Judicial Business but more especially, as Lord Buckmaster has pointed out, to learned counsel who practise in this tribunal and to suitors. I am very glad attention has been drawn to this matter and I can assure noble Lords that I will take care that representations are made to the proper authority.
On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

  GRAMPIAN ELECTRICITY ORDER, 1931. NAPTON AND DISTRICT ELEC TRICITY OEDER, 1931. TORQUAY ELECTRICITY (EXTENSION) ORDER, 1931. NEWPORT (MON.) ELECTRICITY (EXTENSION) ORDER, 1931.
  THE EARL OF LUCAN: My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend the Earl of Plymouth, I beg to move that these four Special Orders be approved.
  Moved, That the Special Orders, as reported from the Special Orders Committee yesterday, be approved.—(The Earl of Lucan.)
  On Question, Motion agreed to.

COATBRIDGE GAS ORDER, 1931.
THE EARL OF LUCAN: My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Templemore, I beg to move that this Special Order be approved.
Moved, That the Special Order, as reported from the Special Orders Committee yesterday, be approved.—(The Earl of Lucan.)
On Question, Motion agreed to.
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Royal Assent was given to the following Bills:

Horticultural Products (Emergency Customs Duties),

Statute of Westminster,

Educational Endowments (Scotland),

National Health Insurance (Prolongation of Insurance),

Indian Pay (Temporary Abatements),

Kilmarnock Gas Provisional Order,

Clydebank Burgh Order Confirmation.

House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed for Judicial Business.
House adjourned at ten minutes past three o'clock.