§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he adheres to the intention, announced to the House the other day in reply to the hon. Member for West Belfast (Mr. Sexton), of making a statement to-night regarding the changes which the Government propose in the Irish Land Law Bill when he makes the Motion for going into Committee?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)The Motion to go into Committee will be made by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant; but such changes as they are are changes entirely within the principles of the Bill. It will save the time of the House if we proceed to consider the Bill in Committee and upon the clauses to deal with the Amendments as they arise.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYA statement has been made out of doors as to the proposed changes; and are we to understand that no announcement is to be made to the House?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHMy right hon. Friend will deal with that question in the course of the debate, and on the Motion that you, Sir, do leave the Chair, if it appears necessary to the House; but I am not aware that a private meeting of the Members of a Party renders it necessary that a grave and serious statement should be made to the House of Commons. It is not, I believe, usual for the Members of the Opposition, or even for the Leader of the Opposition, to make such a statement himself as to the course of policy which the Opposition may think it right to pursue with regard to a Bill.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on the occasion of the introduction of the Home Rule Bill in 1886 there was a meeting out of doors, and that a Colleague of the right hon. Gentleman, the late Chief Secretary for Ireland (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach), moved the adjournment of the House as a protest?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI think it is quite possible that he may have done so. I should be exceedingly sorry if any delay hindered our progress. The course which the Government desired to take is one intended to meet the convenience of the House as far as possible, and to save the time of the House. The right hon. Gentleman takes exception to that course; but on the Motion that you, Sir, leave the Chair we shall give such explanations as are necessary.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEYIt would have been more convenient, and more in accordance with custom, if the Government had placed their Amendments on the Paper, so that they might be considered.