On Wednesday Mr. Balfour moved the Resolution, of which be
bad given notice on the previous day, for the closure on stated days (the last being March 30th) of the outstanding stages of the Supplementary Estimates. He admitted that the Motion was a novelty, but pointed to the analogous use of closure by compartments, and explained that it was necessar7 to pass his Resolution in order that the House might fulfil the financial obligations imposed upon it by the law, without recourse to such undignified expedients as all-night sittings. Mr. Asquith, who moved the adjournment of the House, vigorously attacked the Premier for his unpre- cedented encroachments on the liberties of the House and the unseemly baste with which the Motion had been brought forward. The real reason for this move was that the Govern- ment could not persuade their majority to attend to their Parliamentary duties. On the Motion for the adjournment having been defeated by 266 to 206 votes, Mr. J. Redmond moved and Mr. Winston Churchill seconded an amendment asking the House to refuse to sanction the Prime Minister's proposal, as violating the rights of the House. After a some- what heated debate the Closure was moved, and carried by 249 to 213 votes, majority 36, and Mr. Redmond's amendment negatived by a majority of 40.
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