House Of Commons Debate

A big debate often lasts a fortnight - that is to say, it is carried on during the Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursday3 and Fridays of two weeks, the Wednesdays being usually devoted to the coneideration of bilis introduced by unofficial members, says Temple Bar. The order in which the leading members of the government and of the opposition speak is previously arranged by the whips of the different parties, and the speaker, being informed privately of the understanding, calis on these members in the order appointed, no matter how many small men may at the same time strive to catch hls eye. A member of the opposition always follo-ws in debate a member of the government. The opening of a sitting and toward its close, or before and after the "dinner hour"- that is, from 5 till 7 o'clock and from 10 till 12 -are considered the best and most favorable times for speaking. It is during these periods of the sitting that the "big guns" on each side are brought into action. Under the rules of the house all opposed business must cease at 12 o'clock and the member who at that hour moves the adjournment of the debate has the right to open it the next evening. If a memier of the government speaks last at night, the adjournment of the debate Js moved by an opponent of the government and, vice versa, if a member of the opposition concludes his speech at midnight a supporter of the administration secures the advantag6 of reeuming the debate on the following evening.