HC Deb 28 June 1883 vol 280 cc1830-2

Order for Second Reading read.

MR. STANLEY LEIGHTON

called the attention of the Speaker to the Notice of Amendment to the Order for the Second Reading of the Bill, which stood in the name of the noble Lord (Lord Burghley). The Amendment was in these words— That it is inexpedient, in the opinion of this House, that any Bill should he proceeded with until a better system is arrived at of obtaining the average value of corn grown in this country. Such an Amendment as that, if carried, would stop further legislation in the House, and the point upon which he desired to have the Speaker's ruling was the use of the words "any legislation." As a precedent in point, he would refer to the debates upon the Roads and Bridges (Scotland) Bill in 1873, in the course of which an Amendment was given Notice of by an hon. Member, worded in a similar manner—"That the House declines to entertain any legislation affecting the burdens upon the ratepayers, &c." This was held to be out of Order, the Speaker deciding that it could not be put to the House. It would be observed that he raised the very same point which had already been decided by the Speaker ipsissimis verbis. If that was so, then would not the same objection apply to the Motion of the noble Lord, and would not the Bill stand as an unopposed Order of the Day?

MR. PELL

said, he would also direct the Speaker's attention to what took place on May 18 last year, upon the second reading of the Prevention of Crime (Ireland) Bill, when the hon. Member for Dungarvan (Mr. O'Donnell) moved an Amendment which the Speaker ruled was not relevant to the Bill before the House, and thereupon refused to put the earlier part of the Resolution, only permitting the latter part, which was relevant, to be discussed. The present Amendment of the noble Lord would touch every Bill before the House; and if the House accepted it there would be an end of legislative work for the Session.

MR. SPEAKER

I understand the contention to be that the Amendment in the name of the noble Lord the Member for North Northamptonshire is irregular and irrelevant, and therefore does not apply in blocking the Bill. The Amendment appears to me to be relevant to the Bill. I cannot rule it out of Order. I think his intention might be more correctly expressed by the noble Lord, yet I cannot say the Amendment is irregular.

Mr. STANLEY LEIGHTON

said, there was another point to which he wished to call the Speaker's attention. The Amendment opposed the progress of the Bill— Until a better system is arrived at of obtaining the average value of corn grown in this Country. Now, the Bill had nothing to do with corn averages.

MR. SPEAKER

I am bound to say I think I have already answered the Question.

Second Reading deferred till Wednesday next.