[375:4] By custom, parliamentary counsel are never appointed to the bench, and as they cannot enter Parliament without giving up their practice, they are shut out from a political career.
[375:5] May, 781-82.
[376:1] Cf. S.O.P.B. 154, 155, 157a, 158b, 173, 194c.
[376:2] S.O.P.B. 212.
[376:3] Ibid., 150, 157, 157a, 173a, 194c, 194d.
[377:1] Rep. Com. on Municipal Trading, Com. Papers, 1900, VII., 1, Qs. 569, 985.
[377:2] Cf. S.O.P.B. 79-86.
[377:3] The total number of private bills that come before the House of Commons runs from 150 to 250 a year, and of these about one half are unopposed in that House. There are also about 50 unopposed provisional orders.
[377:4] Cf. S.O.P.B. (1902) 109, 137. For bills originating in the House the third man was the member indorsing the bill. But this member, if interested, locally or otherwise, although taking part in other ways, could not vote. S.O.P.B. (1902) 139, now S.O.P.B. 138. For bills coming from the House of Lords he was Mr. Parker Smith, M.P. Rep. Com. on Priv. Business, Com. Papers, 1902, VII., 321, Qs. 23, 68-69, 368; and see the Return printed yearly in the Commons Papers of the persons who served on the committee for each unopposed bill.
In the Lords the Committee on unopposed bills consists of the Chairman of Committees and such lords as think fit to attend, but the work is practically done by the Chairman and his counsel. May, 801. Rep. Com. on Priv. Business, Com. Papers, 1902, VII., 321, Qs. 1961, 1984-85, 2096, 2099-2104.