One of the iron rules of the House of Commons is that the Speaker cannot leave the chair until a motion for the adjournment of the House has been carried.

This is always proposed by the senior Government Whip.

The motion is usually carried in dumb show, and with that mumble in which business is carried through in the House when there is no opposition.

But it is one of the ancient and time-honoured privileges of the House of Commons to raise almost any question on the motion for the adjournment of the House.

The reason, I assume, is that the representatives of the people--when about to separate--thought in the olden days that it ought to be their right to raise any question whatsoever, lest the king in their absence should take advantage of the situation.