HC Deb 26 April 1849 vol 104 cc858-60
LORD J. RUSSELL

said, he proposed to move the Order of the Day for going into Committee on the Poor Laws (Ireland) Rate in Aid Bill, for the purpose of postponing it, inasmuch as there were so many Motions on the Paper, that he could not expect it conveniently to come on that night. What he proposed was, to postpone the Committee on that Bill until tomorrow, when it could be taken first. Then, when the Bill had gone through Committee, he proposed that the House should meet on Saturday for the report. He did not anticipate there would be any discussion on that stage. The third reading of the Bill would then stand as the first Order of the Day for Monday, when that discussion could take place, which, he understood, was desired, before the Bill went up to the House of Lords. After this, he hoped to be able to go into Committee of Supply, and take a few Votes on account.

MR. GRATTAN

then rose and requested the hon. Member for Shrewsbury to postpone the Motion he had on the Paper for the appointment of a Standing Committee to consider the practical measures likely to improve the working classes; and he grounded his appeal to him on the distressed condition of the poor of Ireland. He hoped, therefore, that the hon. Gentleman would give way to the noble Lord at the head of the Government, that the measures respecting Ireland might be considered without loss of time.

MR. SLANEY

said, he had twice postponed his Motion, at the request of the Government; and now he thought it hardly fair that he should be appealed to for another postponement.

SIR. R. PEEL

hoped that the announcement made by the noble Lord at the head of the Government, with regard to the postponement of certain measures, did not affect the Motion of which he had given notice with respect to the Bill for the Amendment of the Irish Poor Law, or the other, respecting the sale of incumbered estates.

LORD J. RUSSELL

Oh no, these are not at all affected by what I said. They will come on to-night.

MR. HUME

said, he had postponed the two Motions which stood on the Paper in his name, in order that the Government might proceed with their measures for Ireland; and he was sure that the hon. Gentleman the Member for Shrewsbury, although his Motion was important, would find a more fitting opportunity for bringing it on at a future period of the Session.

MR. BRIGHT

wished to add his opinion in favour of the hon. Member postponing his Motion. Although the subject was one to which the hon. Gentleman had paid great attention, and was in itself very important, yet he thought he would be more likely to gain the ear of the House on another occasion if he would consent to postpone it to-night. He said, there was reason for wishing to forward any measure introduced by the Government in regard to Ireland; and therefore, although the subject of the hon. Gentleman's Motion was important, it was still more important that the Government measures for Ireland should be advanced without delay.

Mr. SLANEY

said, if any day were fixed when he could have precedence for the discussion of a subject to which he had given a long and painful attention, he had no objection to postponing his Motion. But unless that were assented to, at that advanced period of the Session, he did not feel it his duty to postpone a subject in which a large portion of the people of England were interested; he wished to know, therefore, whether the noble Lord would give him precedence on any day?

MR. POULETT SCROPE

said, the hon. Gentleman spoke of the people of England, but he (Mr. Scrope) appealed to the House, whether the distress of the Irish people did not make it much more important to proceed with the Government measures.

MR. SLANEY

Can the noble Lord give me any assurance that I shall have the precedence on a future day?

LORD J. RUSSELL

said, that that matter rested with the House, and not with him.

MR. SLANEY

then said, that in obedience to the desire which appeared to prevail on both sides of the House, he would give way to the noble Lord, but in the hope that another day would be granted to him for the discussion of his Motion.

LORD J. RUSSELL

said, he would at present leave the Bate in Aid Bill where it stood on the Paper, to come on at a later period of the evening. If it should not come on to-night, he would then revert to the arrangement he had already announced.

Subject at an end.