HC Deb 29 August 1887 vol 320 cc439-41

(Mr. Northcote, Mr. Edward Stanhope, Mr. Brodrick.)

COMMITTEE. [ADJOURNED DEBATE.]

Order read, for resuming Adjourned Debate on Question [3rd August], "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."

Question again proposed.

Debate resumed.

DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)

I sincerely hope that this Bill will not be pressed. The Government have got a great number of measures through this evening, and having now arrived at an advanced hour of the night, it would be a great deal better for us to go home to our well-earned repose instead of staying here to debate this measure, with the provisions of which we cannot possibly be acquainted. If this Bill is going to be taken, I, for one, shall criticize it as thoroughly as I can.

MR. M. J. KENNY (Tyrone, Mid)

With regard to this question, I do not intend to offer any particular opposition; but I must say we have had no explanation of the provisions of the Bill. It is a measure of which one hon. Member has charge one day and another hon. Member the next, and the Government do not seem to know exactly their own minds with regard to it, for I see the Secretary for War has an Amendment on the Paper to it. After considering the hours of labour the House has already sustained to-night, I think this is eminently an occasion on which we should adjourn. I will, therefore, move "That this Debate be now adjourned."

MR. SPEAKER

Does any hon. Member second that?

MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

I will second that.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Debate be now adjourned." —(Mr. M. J. Kenny.)

THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF ORDNANCE (Mr. NORTHCOTE) (Exeter)

The Bill is purely a Departmental one, having no political character at all. It was drafted originally by the late Administration in 1885, and it was introduced, but it could not be carried through in consequence of the change of Administration. It was introduced because in that year a carriage accident occurred and an action for damages was brought against the War Department, which had no power to resist, because it had no right to construct tramways. A heavy charge was consequently thrown on the taxpayers of the country, and hence this purely Departmental Bill has been introduced, so that in the event of another accident of the kind occurring the War Department will be in a position to resist a similar claim. I hope that, under those circumstances, hon. Members will allow you, Sir, to leave the Chair.

MR. CONYBEARE

Whenever we object—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order ! The hon. Member is out of order in speaking again.

Question put.

The House divided:—Ayes 20; Noes 63: Majority 43.—(Div. List, No. 434.)

[3.40 A.M.]

Original Question again proposed.

MR. DILLWYN (Swansea, Town)

It is now a quarter to four, and this is not legislation such as we ought to proceed with at this hour of the morning. We have been pretty hard at work for a long time, and it is singularly out of place for the present Government to propose going on at this time, when one of the Rules which they themselves proposed was that the debate should close at 12. I think it is time to put a stop to these proceedings, and, as I am imformed, the Bill under consideration is likely to be discussed at some length, I will move that the House do now adjourn.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."— (Mr. Dillwyn.)

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)

I am sorry the hon. Member thought it necessary to interpose at this stage. As has been explained, our only object is to get the Speaker out of the Chair, and the hon. Member will surely admit that that will not occupy many minutes; but at this hour in the morning we will not enter into a contest on such a question as this. We will agree to the debate being adjourned.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

Debate adjourned till To-morrow.