In the House of Commons on Monday Mr. Balfour moved
to convert the new Sessional Orders relating to procedure into Standing Orders. Mr. Gibson Bowles, who deprecated the stereotyping of the Order passed earlier in the year, and moved an amendment to that effect, pointed out that the Report of the Committee on Private Bill Procedure had not yet been published; and held that the rule preventing counts-out before 10 o'clock encouraged Members to stay away till that hour. Mr. Balfour, in reply, contended that such conversion of Sessional into Standing Orders without long delay was sanctioned by precedent ; that real though curtailed privi- leges were better than illusory privileges ; that the rule affecting unofficial Members' time worked well ; and that the division lists showed that the 10 o'clock rule did not have the effect of emptying the House between 9 and 10. The amend- ment, which was supported by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, Mr. Bryce, and several speakers on the Ministerial side, was rejected by 144 votes to 60; and other amendments having been rejected or negatived, the Motion was carried unaltered by 155 votes to 61. The new rules, it may be added, besides the provision as to counts-out already referred to, enable the Speaker to adjourn the House or suspend the sitting when grave dis- order arises, provide for the allocation of time as between the Government and unofficial Members, and regulate the pro- cedure for the conduct of business in Supply and of private business.
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