SUPPLIE

FOR TH

CELIO SEDY

To

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

JAMES WILLIAM LOWTHER,

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

&c., &c., &c.,

THE ELEVENTH EDITION OF

This Treatise,

BY HIS KIND PERMISSION,

IS INSCRIBED, WITH THE DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND RESPECT,

by

THE EDITORS.

PREFACE

TO THE ELEVENTH EDITION.

In

THE last, or tenth, edition of Sir T. Erskine May's "Parliamentary Practice was issued, under the joint editorship of the late Sir Reginald Palgrave and of Mr. Alfred Bonham-Carter, in 1893; and the arrangement adopted in that edition has been followed as closely as possible in the present case. The present Editors have endeavoured to preserve the balance of the work precisely as it was. dealing with the many changes in parliamentary procedure that have occurred since the last edition appeared, they have inevitably been prevented-by the insistent pressure upon their space-from attempting to describe much of this new matter with the same detailed consideration of its origin or history, or with the same fulness of illustration, which it was possible to devote to similar matter, often of less importance, in previous editions. But they have been desirous not to alter the general basis and scope of the work in any way. Taking the tenth edition as their text, they have endeavoured, to the best of their abilities, to bring it thoroughly up to date.

They have retained here the prefaces of the first edition and of the ninth-the latter being the last

edition for which the eminent author was himself responsible. With the omission of one or two paragraphs of transient interest, Sir Reginald Palgrave's preface to the tenth edition is also reprinted here; it not only explains the general plan adopted by himself and his colleague in preparing that edition, but it states, more completely than the present Editors could hope to do, the considerations and conditions by which the preparation of any new edition of the work must necessarily be governed. Apart, moreover, from the interest attaching to them from their authorship, these prefaces to earlier editions serve to mark the changes that, within comparatively short periods in the history of Parliament, have taken place in its practice and procedure.

One of the most salient changes of this kind that has taken place since the last edition of this book was issued, is that effected by the alterations in the Rules of Procedure of the House of Commons which were embodied in the standing orders in 1902. As a result of these changes in the conduct of its business, Friday has been substituted for Wednesday as the day upon which that house meets at twelve o'clock for a short sitting. Fixed periods of the day have been defined during which alone certain kinds of business-such as questions to ministers, opposed and unopposed private business, and the discussion of motions for adjournment on "matters of urgent public importance "-can be taken. And the house has conferred by a standing order, upon the government of the day, those facilities for the transaction of business which each government formerly