§ Mr. Leadersaid he rose to make a complaint of what he considered a very unfair and dishonest act on the part of some Members of the Government. On Saturday morning, a very few minutes before 3 o'clock, the Municipal Corporations Bill was read a third time and passed. Now, it would be in the recollection of the House, that a few evenings ago, when it 1291 was moved at a late hour at night that the bill should be committed, he objected to proceeding with that stage of the measure without further discussion. He had, however, waved his objection on the express understanding that the bill should not pass until it was fully discussed. He had given way, because he did not wish to obstruct the Government. At that time he had stated that the most material clauses of the bill, those introduced by the hon. Member for Worcester (Sir T. Wilde) had been expunged, and that the bill was wholly different from what it had been. But, contrary to the good faith of hon. Gentlemen opposite, he found that the bill had been passed, at a late hour, without observation. It must have been very late when it passed, because he voted on the question of adjournment, and had then gone away, not thinking that the bill would be proceeded with. A breach of faith had, therefore, been committed; and if Gentlemen opposite meant to conduct business in that manner, they must expect their political opponents to throw every possible obstacle in their way. In future, therefore, he should adopt every Parliamentary means in his power to oppose any Government bill of which he disapproved. That was the only mode of meeting so unfair and unjust a proceeding as that which had been adopted in this instance.
§ Sir R. Peelsaid, he was not aware that the bill had been read a third time. If the hon. Gentleman had communicated his wish on the subject, he was sure the bill would not have been read a third time. He thought it was very probable, as the bill had stood some time for a third reading, that the motion was made by some hon. Gentleman who was not aware of the understanding referred to by the hon. Member. He was sorry that such a circumstance should have occurred, but he was sure that the third reading had been moved by some hon. Member who was not cognizant of the understanding which had been alluded to.
§ Sir G. Clerksaid, the bill had stood for a third reading for several nights. He was not aware that it was intended to move any amendments to the bill; and the Attorney-General, who moved the third reading, understood that no amendment would be moved.
§ Mr. Leadersaid, that for three months the bill, night after night, had been post- 1292 poned. The Attorney-General, he thought, must have known that it was not intended to suffer the hill to pass without discussion, especially with reference to the clauses of the hon. Member for Worcester, which had been expunged.
§ The matter ended.