L—6.

Speaker or Chairman (as the case may be) may require ten members to rise in their places to support the Motion, and failing ten Members so rising such motion shall not be put. Note.—-In nearly all Legislatures during recent years it has been found that the privilege of moving the adjournment of the House has been availed of to an extent which seriously impedes business, and new rules have been adopted by the House of Commons dealing with this subject. The foregoing suggestions, without going nearly so far as the new rules referred to, will, it is submitted, while preserving the privilege, prevent its abuse. Similar provisions were included in the proposals of Sir H. A. Atkinson in May, 1888. Proposed addition to Standing Order No. 95 :— . 11. By the Previous Question being moved; provided that the Previous Question may not be moved while a Member is addressing the House, unless such Member shall have been speaking for an hour or more than an hour To adopt the following new Standing Order, to follow No. 99 :— 99a. When after the doors have been locked for a Division upon a Motion for the adjournment' of a' Debate, or of the House during any Debate, or that the Chairman of a Committee do report progress or do leave the Chair, the decision of Mr. Speaker or the Chairman that the " Ayes " or " Noes" have it is challenged, Mr. Speaker or the Chairman may call upon the members challenging it to rise in their places, and, if they be less than seven in a House of twenty members or upwards, he may forthwith declare the determination of the House or of the Committee. The names of such challenging members shall be recorded if required. Note.—This is a modification of No. 4 of the New Rules of the House of Commons (1882), and is intended to avoid the loss of time consequent upon the taking of unnecessary Divisions. Proposed new Standing Order, to follow No. 127:— 127 a. The right to quote or comment upon speeches of the same debate includes that of quoting from the Hansard report of such speeches, but not from advance slips, unless such slips shall have been supplied to Members generally. Note. —The above is in accordance with the ruling of the Chair, and it would be as well that it should have a place among the Standing Orders. To amend Standing Order No. 165 so as to read as follows : — 165. No motion for the Previous Question in the negative form can be made in Committee. Proposed new Standing Order, to followNo. 138 :— 138 a. Whenever any Member shall have been named by the Speaker, or by the Chairman of a Committee of the whole House, immediately after the commission of the offence of disregarding the authority of the Chair, or of abusing the Bules of the House by persistently and wilfully obstructing the business of the House, or otherwise, then, if the offence has been committed by such Member in the House, the Speaker shall forthwith put the Question, on a Motion being made, no Amendment, Adjournment, or Debate being allowed, " That such Member be suspended from the

service of the House ;'•'■ and, if the offence has been committed in a Committee of the whole House, the Chairman shall, on a Motion being made, put the same Question in a similar way, and if the Motion is carried shall forthwith suspend the proceedings of the Committee and report the circumstance to the House; and the Speaker shall thereupon put the same Question, without Amendment, Adjournment, or Debate, as if the offence had been committed in the House itself. If any Member be suspended under this Order, his suspension on the first occasion shall continue for not exceeding one week, on the second occasion for not exceeding a fortnight, and on the third, or any subsequent occasion, for not exceeding a month: Provided always that suspension from the service of the House shall not exempt the Member so suspended from serving on any Committee for the consideration of a Private Bill to which he may have been appointed before his suspension: Provided also that not more than one Member shall be named at the same time, unless several Members, present together, have jointly disregarded the authority of the Chair : Provided always that nothing in this Besolution shall be taken to deprive the House of the power of proceeding against any Member according to ancient usages. Proposed new Standing Order, to follow No. 166:— 166 a. In Committee of the whole House, when more Members than one rise to address the Committee, the Chairman shall give precedence to a Member (if such shall have risen) who has not previously spoken to the question before the Committee. Proposed new Standing Order, to follow No. 175:— 175 a. When a Motion is made "That the Chairman do report progress " or "do leave the Chair," the debate thereupon shall be confined to the matter of such Motion. Note.—The above is taken from No. 3 of the new rules of the House of Commons. To amend Standing Order No. 178 by substituting the word nine for the word ten. Note.—This will make the maximum number of a Select Committee nine instead of ten as at present. To omit Standing Order No. 193 and substitute the following in lieu thereof : — 193. The Chairman of a Select Committee shall have a deliberative as well as a castingvote. To omit Standing Order No. 288 and substitute the following in lieu thereof: — 288. Every Bill (except as before) is ordered to be prepared and brought in by a member, or members, named by the House. Note. —The words in italics are new, and are necessary to bring the Standing Order into conformity with the practice of the House. Proposed new Standing Order, to folloio No. 291 :— 291 a. All proceedings in the House upon any Bill so referred shall be suspended until the Committee shall have reported thereon. To omit Standing Orders Nos. 293 and 294. Note.—Corresponds with the proposal of Sir H. A. Atkinson in 1888, and aims at the abolition of an antiquated and cumbrous procedure— namely, that of having to introduce in Committee of the Whole Bills relating to religion or trade.

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