HC Deb 14 June 1881 vol 262 cc469-70
MAJOR NOLAN

asked the honourable and learned Member for Bridport, If he will withdraw the block which prevents the introduction and printing of the Bill to suspend Evictions in Ireland for a limited period, on payment of six months' rent, which Bill has been prepared by and will, with the leave of the House, be brought in by the following Members:—Messrs. Martin, Healy, Dr. Kinnear, Henry, Sexton, Moore, Biggar, O'Shea, M'Coan, Errington, Daly, Richardson, Macfarlane, Litton, Finigan, O'Beirne, Whitworth, Blennerhassett, M'Carthy, Denis O'Conor, Findlater, Molloy, The O'Donoghue, Callan, Marum, The O'Gorman Mahon, Lalor, Synan, Lea, O'Donnell, Gabbett, Arthur O'Connor, O'Kelly, O'Shaughnessy, and Nolan?

MR. WARTON

desired to know from the Speaker whether the Question could be put to him, as it did not refer to any Bill or Motion of which he had charge, or, if put, whether he was bound to answer it?

MR. SPEAKER

It is within the discretion of the hon. and learned Member to answer the Question or not as he pleases. The Question is quite in Order.

MR. WARTON

said, that as the Speaker seemed to think he ought to answer the Question, he would be delighted, as a matter of courtesy, to do so. His objection to the Bill was that he did not think it desirable to have two Irish Land Bills before the House at one time, and since the Question was put down, he had been furnished with an additional reason for objection. If the Government Land Bill had only five names on the back of it, what must this Bill be with 25?

MR. MITCHELL HENRY

asked whether it was not an abuse of the intention of the House in adopting the Half-past 12 o'clock Rule for any hon. Member to take upon himself to block a number of Bills so as to prevent their even being printed or read by the House; and whether that was not putting legislation into the hands of any particular Member who chose to make such use of the Rule?

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member puts a Question to me which is not strictly on the point of Order. If the House thinks that the practice adopted by the hon. and learned Member for Bridport (Mr. Warton) is one which involves great inconvenience, it is for the House to express its opinion.