§ The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that he was aware that it was not usual to bring on Government business on a Wednesday, but on that day to allow Members to proceed 721 with their Bills; but it was a matter of pressing emergency that the sugar duties should not be postponed at that late period of the year. It would be for the convenience of all parties interested in the subject, as well as for the public convenience, that the discussion on the sugar duties should take place at as early a period as possible, and he had given notice, that he intended, to propose an important alteration. It was on these grounds that he earnestly entreated hon. Gentlemen who had orders on the paper previous to his own, to allow him to state the nature of the propositions which he intended to pro pose; he should endeavour to justify such a concession at their hands by taking up as short a time as possible.
§ Mr. Francis Frenchobserved, that the Chancellor of the Exchequer had given notice last year that he intended to intro duce a Bill for the encouragement of public works in Ireland, but there appeared to be no probability of such a measure being introduced at present; he therefore wished to learn from the right hon. Gentleman what were his intentions on the subject.
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequeranswered, that with respect to the Public Works Bill, it was his intention to intro duce that measure, and to endeavour to carry it during the present Session. His hon. Friend must be aware that he had no opportunity of bringing forward the mea sure at an earlier period of the Session, with a chance of carrying it.
§ Sir Robert Peelthought that it would be much better to strike off all those Bills from the order book which were not likely to be got through during the pre sent Session. If the noble Lord would mention those Bills which he intended to pass during the present Session, and let the others stand over, it would add materially to the convenience of hon. Gentlemen. At present hon. Members were brought down to the House not knowing what measures were to be discussed, to the hindrance of public business, and to the great inconvenience of Members. He wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman a question respecting the new Stamp Bill. The right hon. Gentleman would probably press for so much of the measure as related to the alteration of the stamp duties on news papers, but did he expect that he should be able to pass during the present Session all the clauses of that extensive measure?
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequeragreed 722 with the right hon. Baronet that it would be for the convenience of public business that those measures that were not likely to be carried during the present Session should be postponed; but he did not think that this would be the case with respect to the Bill for the consolidation of the stamp laws, although it was a very long Bill. The points on which differences of opinion were likely to arise could be gathered by meeting the parties interested, and he could assure the right hon. Gentleman that he had had many communications with them. He hoped, after the alterations he had proposed, that the points of difference of views would be few in number, and so unimportant in themselves, that they would not be likely to prevent the important object of consolidating the stamp laws from being effected during the present Session. If they could effect consolidation with satisfaction to the House and the country, they would obtain an object of public usefulness which should not be lightly abandoned; at the same time, as far as he was concerned, he would endeavour to strike off all those Bills which were not likely to be carried during the present Session.
§ Mr. Cayleythought it was most objectionable to bring on public business on Wednesdays, which was the only day on which private Members had an opportunity of bringing forward Bills.
§ Mr. Wakleyalso protested against thus dealing with the Bills introduced by Members not connected with the Government. The first order of the day was for the second reading of the Parish Vestries Bill—a measure which he had introduced, and which it was of importance should be carried without delay. He did not feel himself justified in assenting to the request of the right hon. Gentleman.
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequerhad not explained the nature of the urgent necessity that prevailed with respect to voting the sugar duties. The annual sugar duties would expire on the 5th of July, and it would be a great public inconvenience if they were not at once agreed to.
§ Mr. Hawesthought that it was a great hardship that Members did not know whether they should be allowed to proceed with their Bills or not on Wednesday. He had now for two years endeavoured to proceed with a measure of great public importance which he had introduced, and he could not help complaining of the treatment he had experienced. If the 723 Government, Wednesday after Wednesday, would proceed with their measures, they had better by half at once strike off the notice-book all Bills introduced by private Members. If such a proceeding were attempted again, he would certainly take the sense of the House on the question.
§ Mr. Aglionbyhad a Bill which by the proposed arrangement he should be pre vented bringing forward till such a late hour of the evening that the House would not listen to it. He had been disappointed in a similar manner on former occasions.
§ Mr. Wakleysaid, that he could not consent to postpone the discussion on the Parish Vestries Bill.
§ Sir Robert Peelsuggested to the Chancellor of the Exchequer the propriety of merely moving his resolutions and taking the discussion on another day. He could hardly expect to get through the discussion in a short time, and a partial discussion on a question of this nature would not be satisfactory. If, therefore, the Chancellor of the Exchequer was allow ed to introduce his propositions, the debate on them could be taken on another day.
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequercould not altogether agree to the arrangement proposed by the right hon. Baronet. He thought that it would be very unfair, and would be attended with great inconvenience after the notice he had given, if he did not explain his views and intentions on the subject. If after his explanation, hon. Gentlemen would allow the discussion to take place on the second reading, he would take care to fix on a day when they should have ample opportunity of debating it. With respect to the suggestion of the right hon. Baronet, he would only observe, that if the resolutions were proposed in Committee to-day, the next step would be to report them to-morrow, when he would not have an opportunity of entering into an explanation, as it was a notice day, nor could a discussion take place on them. The nearest day, then, for a discussion would be on the motion for the second reading of the Bill founded on them. All that he required was, to explain shortly the object he had in view. This could not be done if he merely proposed the resolutions without explanation; and if he abstained from doing so, he should expose his measure to misconception, and he might put parties who were interested to great inconvenience. The hon. Member for Finsbury stood in a peculiarly favourable situation as regarded 724 his Bill, and nothing could prevent its coming forward that evening. He would move that the House resolve itself into a Committee of Ways and Means.
§ Motion agreed to. House in Committee.