STANDING ORDERS.

1927.

PART I.

STANDING ORDERS RELATIVE TO

PUBLIC BUSINESS.

Sittings of the House.

the House

1.-(1.) Unless the house otherwise order, Sittings of the house shall meet every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at a quarter to three of the clock.

(2.) At half-past eleven of the clock the speaker shall adjourn the house without question put, unless a bill originating in committee of ways and means, or unless proceedings made in pursuance of any act of parliament or standing order, or otherwise exempted as hereinafter provided from the operation of this standing order, be then under consideration.

(3) At eleven of the clock on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, except

as

as aforesaid, and at four of the clock on Fridays, the proceedings on any business then under consideration shall be interrupted; and, if the house be in committee, the chairman shall leave the chair, and make his report to the house; and if a motion has been proposed for the adjournment of the house, or of the debate, or in committee that the chairman do report progress, or do leave the chair, every such dilatory motion shall lapse without question put.

(4.) Provided always, that on the interruption of business the closure may be moved; and if moved, or if proceedings under the closure rule be then in progress, the speaker or chairman shall not leave the chair until the questions consequent thereon and on any further motion, as provided in the rule "closure of debate," have been decided.

(5.) After the business under consideration at eleven and four respectively, have been disposed of, no opposed business shall be taken.

(6.) All business appointed for any sitting, and not disposed of before the termination of the sitting, shall stand over until the next sitting, or until such other sitting on any day on which the house ordinarily sits as the member in charge of the business may appoint.

(7.) A motion may be made by a minister of the crown at the commencement of public business, to be decided without amendment or

debate

debate to the following effect: "That the proceedings on any specified business be exempted at this day's sitting from the provisions of the standing order sittings of the house,'" and, if such a motion be agreed to, the business so specified shall not be interrupted if it is under discussion at eleven o'clock that night, may be entered upon at any hour although opposed, and, if under discussion when the business is postponed, may be resumed and proceeded with, though opposed, after the interruption of business.

(8.) Provided always, that after any business exempted from the operation of this order is disposed of, the remaining business of the siting shall be dealt with according to the provisions applicable to business taken after eleven o'clock.

(9.) Provided also that the chairman or deputy-chairman of ways and means do take the chair as deputy-speaker, when requested so to do by Mr. Speaker, without any formal communication to the house; and that Mr. Speaker shall nominate, at the commencement of every session, a panel of not more than five members to act as temporary chairmen of committees, when requested by the chairman of ways and

means.

of Friday

2. The house shall meet every Friday, at Duration eleven o'clock for private business, petitions, sittings. orders of the day, and notices of motions, and

shall

Termination of Friday sittings

Precedence

of business at different sittings.

shall continue to sit until half-past four o'clock, unless previously adjourned.

3. When such business has been disposed of, or at half-past four o'clock precisely, notwith standing there may be business under discus sion, Mr. Speaker shall adjourn the hous without putting any question.

Arrangement of Public Business. 4. Unless the house otherwise direct

(a) Until Easter government business shall have precedence at every sitting except the sitting on Wednesday and the sitting on Friday; and at the sitting on Wednesday notices of motions and public bils. other than government bills, shall have precedence of government business, and notices of motions shall have precedence. of the orders of the day;

(b) After Easter government business shall have precedence at all sittings, except the sittings on the first, second, third and fourth Fridays after Easter Day and the sittings on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth Fridays after Whit Sunday;

(c) At the sittings on Wednesday, when government business has not precedence, Mr. Speaker shall at half-past seven of the clock, if the first motion (other than a motion for the adjournment of the house made