FINANCIAL DEBATE

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 146, 21 June 1916, Page 3

FINANCIAL DEBATE

MEMBERS TAKEN BY SUJRPRISE

WHO IS TO BLAME?

A "bolt from the blue" descended upon Parliament last night. Galleries and members' benches, were full in anticipation of the Budget—the "War Budget"—debate, and ma-ny constituents and casual and interested visitors were regretting that the orderlies had reported full galleries, and that thej' would have to wait their turn. The Prime Minister had told a deputation n few days before that he expected the debate to last for ten days.. It was a matter .of general knowledge that many members had been preparing speeches. Labour had, in at least one qnarter, laid itself out for an hour's destructive criticism. They were all disappointed.

SomeoDe blundered; someone was not ready. The usual process on snch an occasion is simple. Mr. Speaker informs the House thai "the motion is that I do• now leave the.. Chair in order that the House may go into Committee of Suppfy." Under ordinary circumstances a member, the leader of the debate, rises to his feet, and Bays : "Mr. Speaker, Sir," and he and all who follow after him until the conclusion of the debate can, and generally do, talk for an hour each. This is where the unexpected happened. Mr. Speaker made the usual announcement, no one rose to speak, and before ■the astonished House and galleries were awake the House was in Committee of Supply, with the Chairman of Committeas (Mr. A. S. Malcolm) in the Chair. There was to be no Financial Debate, and the ten days predicted by the Prune Minister had been, presumably, taken off the duration of ithe session. Members were greatly surprised when they realised what had happened, but they rallied as quickly as possible. The onJy thin^ to do was to discuss the "first item,' which is generally regarded as the opportunity (under the Standing Orders) for an all-round discussion on details of the Estimates. : Even that hope failed. The surprise had come too swiftly. In about twenty minutes the debating powers of the House, shorn of its possibility of discursiveness, had been exhausted, and on the motion.of'the Prime Minister the Cohnnittee of Supply decided that it would report- progress and go home for the night. ' ' .

; In the lobbies the question of who was to. blame was discussed at length. •In moat quarters there was a feeling of relief. The oldest Parliamentary hand, who had been there for thirty odd years, had never known such an occasion. There were no precedents. Two sessions ago parties agreed, for strategic purposes, not to. discuss the Budget. That was different. On this' occasion it is fully apparent that the House was taken by surprise.

It was,, .in, any case, a historical incident, and one that will live long in the memory of those who witnessed it. And yet it was . but a fitting end to a day of surprises. Shortly after the House met the Government had brought 'down an Imprest Supply Bill, which is generally regarded as a; golden, opportunity for seeking "redress of grievances." Not a question was asked, not a word was said by way of complaint, and the Bill passed all stages. The general opinion seemed to be that the Financial Debate would afford full opportunity for talk— and there was no debate. Seeing that Parliament costs'something over £30 an hour, members may, perhaps, be pardoned.