Dr. R. D. Lyons, Member for Dublin, publishes through the
Tinics a notable suggestion for introducing Grand Committees, without altering the existing forms of the House. His idea is 'that as upon many subjects only experts attend the sittings, that tendency might be utilised. He would, therefore, allow the House to discuss and settle certain classes of business, especially Scotch and Irish busi- ness, between the hours of ten and three in the daytime. He calculates that Scotchmen and Irishmen would attend at those hours, and the time of the House would be saved for more general work. He sees, however, that the officials of the House who are up half the night would not be ready again at ten o'clock, and proposes, therefore, that all offices in the House should. be duplicated, and an array of deputy-clerks and serjeants should be appointed. Does he not see, as he writes • this suggestion, where his weak place is, or does he really imagine that an Irish Land Bill, or a Scotch Edu- cation Bill, could be carried 'through without the attendance of Ministers P They are half-killed already, and to require of 'them six hours' work in office, five in the Early House, and eight in the Late House, would exhaust them altogether. In a year, we• should bury them all, or all except Mr. Gladstone. He might do nineteen hours' work a day continuously, but even he • might, about Friday, feel a good deal fagged.
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