HC Deb 18 February 1876 vol 227 cc500-1

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House will immediately resolve itself into the Committee of Supply."—(Mr. W. H. Smith.)

THE O'DONOGHUE

said, he wished to call attention to the fact that the second reading of the Irish Land Bill, introduced by the hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Limerick (Mr. Butt), had been fixed for Wednesday, the 29th of March. It was a measure which the people of Ireland considered as of paramount importance, and in which they took a deep and burning interest. The agricultural population of Ireland numbered considerably more than 3,000,000, and a general feeling of insecurity pervaded that population. What they required was a Parliamentary title to their homes, and they naturally looked forward with intense interest to the discussion of a measure which was introduced at their express desire to secure to them that Parliamentary title. It was clear that a Wednesday sitting would be wholly inadequate for the discussion of the measure.

MR. SPENCER WALPOLE

rose to Order. Was the hon. Member regular, he inquired, in discussing, on the Question that the House resolve itself into Committee of Supply, whether an Order of the Day fixed for the 29th of March should not be debated on some other day? The House having fixed the day, that determination could not be altered, except by a direct Resolution of the House itself.

MR. SPEAKER

said, that the hon. Member had not proceeded far enough to satisfy him that the object referred to by the right hon. Gentleman was that which he had in view. If it were, the hon. Member was clearly out of Order in questioning the decision of the House that a particular Bill should be put on the Orders of the Day for reading a second time on a given day.

THE O'DONOGHUE

said, his object was to point out that a Wednesday sitting of five-and-a-half hours would be wholly insufficient for a satisfactory do-bate of the subject dealt with by the Bill, and to suggest to the hon. and learned Gentleman whether another day could not be secured.

MR. SPEAKER

ruled that the hon. Gentleman was out of Order. If he desired the Order of the Day to which he referred to be discharged, it must be done by substantive Motion. It could not be done on a Motion for going into Committee of Supply.

THE O'DONOGHUE

said, he would bow to the decision of the Chair, and would, before bringing the matter before the House in the form of a Motion, consult his Friends in respect to the terms of it.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved, That this House will immediately resolve itself into the Committee of Supply.