HC Deb 18 May 1874 vol 219 cc394-6
MR. HERBERT

said, he wished to bring before the House a case of breach of privilege. He was only a young Member himself, but he was as jealous of the Privileges of the House as the oldest Member could be. The subject of his complaint was two articles in The Morning Post. The first, which was published in that paper on the 12th of May, was as follows:— We have reason to believe that 'the highest authority' in the House of Commons has expressed himself in terms of disapprobation at the use, on more than one occasion in recent discussions, of words and illustrations not con- sistent with the traditional usages of Parliament, and of a character calculated to lower the tone of the debates and lessen the dignity of a deliberative assembly. Possibly some allowance ought to be made for a new House of Commons elected by household suffrage through the instrumentality of the Ballot. In any case a hope may be expressed that, as attention is now called to the subject, no necessity may arise for further reference to it. Neither he nor any other hon. Member believed that Mr. Speaker had ever expressed such terms of disapprobation at all, and he, for one, objected, Member of that House, to being called in question and censured by any gentleman of the Press, from whatever paper it might come. The second article appeared in The Morning Post on Saturday, and it stated— The Select Committees of the House of Commons will not meet on Monday, owing to the visit of the Emperor of Russia to the City. That statement caused great inconvenience to many hon. Members, and he would ask whether such a statement was not a breach of privilege of that House, and also whether means could not be taken to put a stop to this kind of thing in future?

MR. SPEAKER

I must ask the hon. Member to conclude with a Motion, and also to bring up to the Table the paragraphs of which he complains.

MR. HERBERT

I move, Sir, that the House do now adjourn.

The paragraphs in question having been read by the Clerk at the Table.

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member has submitted two complaints to the House. With regard to the first question, my attention was drawn to the paragraph which he has quoted, and I did not think it my duty to take any notice of it, because I felt persuaded that no hon. Member of the House would believe that I had entertained any such opinion. With regard to the second complaint, I may say that it is highly to be regretted that an incorrect account should be published of the proceedings of this House; but I must remind hon. Members that we have an authorized record of our proceedings in the Votes and Proceedings of this House, and it is to that record that hon. Members should pay attention. The hon. Member has been somewhat out of Order in concluding with the Motion, "that this House do now adjourn." When the hon. Member had brought the matter under the notice of the House he should have concluded with a Motion founded on the allegation that he brought forward.

The honourable Member not being prepared to conclude his Complaint with a Motion, the House proceeded to the Orders of the Day.