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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 6, Issue 332, 8 November 1862, Page 3

The •* Pbeviotts Question " has long been a puzzle for the readers of the parliamentary debates. I will endeavour to explain it, though I am not sure that€ shall be able to make the matter perfectly clear. We must assume that there is a motion before the House of Commons — some truism — as for instance, " It is desirable to reduce taxation." No one disputes the truth of that proposition in the abstract, but it iB felt that if adopted by the House it would be tantamount to a command to Ministers to make a reduction which they feel it would be impolitic to do. There being a general feeling in the House that it would be undesirable to come to a vote which may be misunderstood, the "previous question" — which has been devised to meet such a case — is resorted to. A member who mores the " previous question " says, in effect, this :—" Before the Speaker puts the motion to the vote I call upon him to ask the House the previous question, whether the House wishes the motion to be put at all."— The Speaker asks this question in the following form : — " That that question be now put — as many as are of that opinion say c Aye ; ' of the contrary opinion, say *No.'^ If those who wish the House to come to a decision on the resolution (the Ayes) are in a majority, it is to put the vote; if those of an opposite opinion (the Noes) are in a majority, the resolution in not put, and there id an end of the matter. — Correspondent of Times.