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Parliament—Hour Of Meeting Of This House—Observations

Volume 217: debated on Monday 4 August 1873

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said, he was in the House on Saturday, at the time when Notices were usually given; but he failed to gather any intimation that the ordinary practice of the House as to meeting at 4 o'clock was to be departed from that day (Monday). If their Standing Orders and Sessional Orders were so loosely worded that it was in the power of the Government to fix whatever time they chose for the meeting of the House, they might fix on 3 in the morning. There was nothing to prevent the same practice being adopted in the middle of the Session. He would draw attention to that matter next Session with a view to an alteration of the Standing Orders.

said, he believed it was almost the uniform practice at the close of the Session for such changes in the hour of meeting to be made.

said, he had himself called attention to irregularities of that kind. The complaint of the hon. Member for York was, he thought, well founded. It was impossible for hon. Members to discharge their duty properly if they had not due Notice when to be present.

asked at what hour it was intended that the House should meet to-morrow?

replied that that did not rest with him. He, however, understood the usual hour was half-past 1.

said, that as to the point raised by the hon. Merber for York (Mr. J. Lowther), he might state that the hon. Member for Clackmannan (Mr. Adam) had publicly announced on Saturday afternoon that the House would meet at 3 o'clock on Monday; and Notice to that effect appeared on the Votes.