§ Mr. E. Bullerbrought up the Report on the South Wales Railway, and the Monmouth and Hereford Railway Bills.
Captain Berkeleythought that they should net depart from the usual course of proceeding, namely, of taking the Reports on Railway Bills into consideration on Tuesdays.
§ Mr. Greenesaid, it was most necessary that the rules of the House should be observed, because if they were departed from in one instance, they would be interfered with in others.
§ Lord Granville Somersetsaid, any delay in Railway Bills was most material at this advanced period of the Session; and in the present instance if the Motion of the hon. Member were not acceded to, the effect would be that a most important railway would be delayed for another Session.
§ Mr. Laboucheresaid, he had only a 137 general knowledge on the subject of the Railway Bill under consideration, and he did not wish to do anything which would have the effect of preventing the Bill from passing this Session. It was, however, very well known that the project for the South Wales Railway was supported by powerful interests having much influence in that House; and he would ask, were they, under such circumstances, to depart from the Standing Orders in favour of a Bill so supported, while they declined doing so in other cases.
Mr. Viviansaid, his Motion went no further than that the Report should be taken into consideration on Friday instead of on Tuesday; and he did not think, therefore, that it could be seriously objected to at the present advanced period of the Session.
§ Mr. Sheilsaid, he had no personal connexion with the measure, but as an Irish Member connected more particularly with the south of Ireland, he felt a very great interest in the advancement of his country generally, and more especially with that portion of it to which he more immediately belonged. He believed the interests of Ireland would be materially promoted by the proposed railway; and he could assure the House that this was the opinion of the Representatives of the south of Ireland generally; and he should, therefore, give his support to the Motion of his hon. Friend. He believed, from the position of the districts through which the proposed railway would pass, and the south of Ireland, that they would be reciprocally benefited by it—that what was for the benefit of South Wales was for the benefit also of Ireland; and, on the other hand, that whatever would benefit Ireland, would, at the same time, benefit South Wales. He would beg to remind Members of Her Majesty's Government that the First Minister of the Crown had stated with reference to an Irish railway, that he would not consent to allow small obstructions to lie in the way of it; and that the interests of Ireland were so deeply involved in the passing of the measure that the Government should exert itself to promote it. He did not mean to say that the Bill now under the consideration of the House was of equal importance with the Irish Bill to which he had alluded; but still he thought it belonged to the same class, and he should, therefore, give it his support.
§ Viscount Howicksaid, he was exceedingly averse to applying favours to one Railway Bill which were not extended to others; but though he knew nothing of the particular merits of the South Wales line, he would say generally, that he thought railways ought to get particular indulgence this Session. The House required the promoters of all lines to lay their plans in the first instance before the Railway Department of the Board of Trade, and suspended all proceedings upon the Bills until the Reports of the Board were made. They thus threw back all the railway schemes for a full month of the Session later than they might other wise have been brought forward, and he thought that circumstance ought to induce them now to show some indulgence to the promoters of these schemes in enabling them to have their Bills passed. He did not think that any substantial injury or injustice would be done by acceding to the Motion before the House, and he was, therefore, disposed to vote in favour of it. He should, however do so only on the understanding that a similar indulgence would be extended to other Railway Bills.
§ Motion agreed to.