In the House of Commons on Monday the Prime Minister
submitted various Proposals for the altiratidn of the Rules of Procedure. In moving an amendment changing the morning sitting from Friday to Wednesday, he made it clear that, while strongly supporting the change, he left the decision entirely to the House. The Committee on Procedure had rejected this proposal, and, in spite of the Prime Minister's arguments, the House endorsed the view of the Committee, the Labour Mtmbeas in particular being strongly in favour of the short Friday, and the amendment was defeated by 255 to 180. The alteration of the hour of beginning and ending the day's work was a foregone conclusion, and ultimately an amendment was accepted by a large majority by which the sitting will begin at 2.45, the dinner-hour interval will be abolished, and opposed business will come to an end at 11 o'clock. Another amendment arranges that opposed business shall terminate at 5 instead of 5.30 on Fridays. The discussion, which had the curious effect of exhibiting a unanimity pf opinion between pleasure-seeking " week-enders," business men, and Labour Members, was enlivened by some ()biter dicta from Mr. Healy, who declared that he could see no prospect of his coming into conflict with this Government for the next five or six years, and resolutely opposed the early- closing limit on the ground that every great measure had been advocated after midnight. "Men would only give up obstructing when they were tired, and they did not get tired until 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning." Further minor amend- ments, including one prohibiting attempts to count out the House between 8.15 and 9.15, were adopted at Tuesday's sitting, when it was resolved that the new rules should not take effect till after the Easter Recess.
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