In the absence of the Prime Minister, the Resolution pro-
viding for the closure by compartments of the Old-Age Pensions Bill—allotting five days for the Committee stage, one day for the Report, and one day for the third reading— was moved on Wednesday by Mr. Lloyd George. His muin argument was that of necessity. Without the " guillotine " the Bill would not be out of Committee before August. Mr. Balfour demurred, pointing out that the Education Bill of 1902 had not been olosured until it bad been thirty. six dart tit Committee. The Gtivettictient claimed to know beforehand all the material point* Whidli *bind be raised in Ccimmittee, and &it claini wad subveniiire arid destruotive Of the liberties of the House. After several Liberal Members had protested against flat! eitension of syeltetnatie Clesitre, Mi. Lloyd George declared that there *di no alternatibe: It *di; purely tt !natter of budnetis, for the Govertimdilt had to get through their Work. tfitiitiately the /1.416olutioli *its carried by 80fi iota to 102, hi d, raajerity of 21)4.
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