Mr. E. Clarke also made a thoughtful speech to the
members of the Rotherhithe Conservative Association on Wednesday, on the proposals for gaining time in the House of Commons. He heartily desired to see Bills which had been read a second time taken up in a future session of the same Parlia- ment, so as not to lose all the progress made. This -would, he thought, prevent passing Bills in the dark and without discussion, as the Act of 1878, which has increased so enormously the constituencies of our boroughs, was passed, just to prevent the loss of all the time spent upon it; and would also often shorten greatly the process of legislation. He would not allow any question to be put to a Minister without the guarantee of ten or a dozen signatures by Members of the House, so that questions for individual glorification would cease. We have great doubts about that. Matters of really great importance might be adequately known only to individual Members, and there might be serious mischief in the delay necessary to obtain ten or twelve signatures. It would be better to limit absolutely the time at the disposal of the House for questions, and to postpone those not answered within that time. Mr. Clarke vehemently opposes the chiture, and suggests instead that it might be permissible to count out a debate, if only a minority of less than forty Members wished to continue it. 'That is, he would leave the House at the mercy of forty obstructionists, or leave it just as weak as it now is.
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