BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE.

Kumara Times, Issue 2673, 15 April 1885, Page 2

BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE.

The sitting of the House of Commons on Tuesday, 24th February, 1885, will be entitled to the distinction of being regarded as historical by the circumstance that it has furnished the first occasiou upon which the Cl6ture has been enforced. A motion having been made by the Prime Minister that the notices of motion on the paper should be postponed in order to afford an opportunity for proceeding with the debate upon the vote of censure, one of the Irish Nationalist party, who had a motion on the paper referring to a matter of interest to himself and his colleagues, moved an amendment that this particular matter should first be disposed of. A comparatively brief debate supervened, in the course of which the Speaker rose, and declaring that, in his opinion, the subject had been adequately discussed, stated that it was the evident sense of the House that the question should be then put. Mr O'Brien having then risen to address the chair, he was named by the Speaker, and a division was taken on the question of his suspension, which was carried in the affirmative. The Speaker thereupon submitted the amendment without further debate and it was carried by 270 votes against 46. The Procedure Resolutions occupied the attention of the British Parliament during nearly the wlole of November, 1882, and were finally passed, with the various amendments, on the Ist December in that year. They are to the following effect: — 1. Provides that the ~ t jeaker or Chairman may stop the debate at his discretion, or if supported by more than 200 members; or if opposed by less than 40 and supported by more than 100. 2. Provides that motm-m for :irijonri>meut shall hold g,,ua fo. ihu discussion of a definite matter of urgent public

importance if 40 members support it by standing up. 3. Provides for limiting such debate to the subject in hand. 4. Provides for the taking divisions. 5. 6, and 7 are technical rules for the Speaker or Chairman's guidance. 8. Makes it a standing order that no opposed motion shall be taken after half-past twelve at night. 9. Eegulates the suspension of offending members. 10. Gives the Speaker or Chairman the power to check attempts to secure delay by abuse of the rules. 11 and 12 are minor provisions, and 13 makes the first seven and last three resolutions into Standing Orders.