On Monday Mr. Courtney raised a strong plea for the
private Member, and dwelt upon the useful functions which be had performed in the past, and was still capable of per. forming. He asked for a Select Committee to consider whether choice rather than chance should not decide which private Members' Bills were to be taken, and as to how the time allowed to private Members might be preserved to them intact. Mr. Balfour did not agree to the Select Committee, and pointed out on the general question that unless the
House sat more months in the year, or Governments passed fewer Acts, there could not be more time found for private Members. He considered, also, that the ballot was better than choice for determining what private Members' Bills should be, taken. We suppose there is no help for this closure of the private Member ; but no doubt the busy and intelligent private Member, though apt to take himself a little too seriously, has often done excellent legislative work,
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