HC Deb 16 June 1858 vol 150 cc2191-3

Order for second Reading read.

MR. H. B. SHERIDAN,

on the order of the day for the second reading of this Bill, said he was content to postpone the discussion on the Bill till the 7th of July.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be read a second time upon Wednesday, the 7th day of July next."

MR. HENLEY

suggested that it would be better for the hon. Gentleman to take his Bill off the paper than postpone it from day to day; for at that period of the Session it would be impossible for Government, much less a private Member, to carry it through its several stages. If the hon. Member did not withdraw the Bill, or give an intimation that he would withdraw it on a future day, he (Mr. Henley) would move that it be read a second time that day six months.

MR. H. B. SHERIDAN

said, that his difficulty as to withdrawing the Bill was that the parties in this question were tired of the attempt of the Government to settle it.

MR. WILSON

said, that the person who defeated the Bill of last year was the hon. Member himself, who talked it out on a Wednesday. This subject had better be left in the hands of the executive Government, and therefore he hoped that the hon. Member would withdraw this Bill.

MR. MALINS

was impressed with the impossibility of a private Member carrying any Bill that he did not bring forward within the first fourteen days of the Session; and he was further impressed with the impossibility of any private Member carrying such a Bill as that before the House. He thought the hon. Member (Mr. Sheridan) would exercise a wise discretion in withdrawing the Bill.

COLONEL FRENCH

said, the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Sheridan) wished to have this Bill read a second time, in order that it might be referred to a Select Committee.

Mr. SPOONER

recommended the hon. Member not to persevere.

MR. SOTHERON ESTCOURT moved as an Amendment to the original resolution, that the Bill be read a second time this day six months.

MR. SPOONER

seconded the Amendment.

Amendment proposed,— To leave out the words "Wednesday the 7th day of July next," at the end of the Question, to add the words "upon this day six months.

Question proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question."

MR. H. B. SHERIDAN

was anxious to have a discussion upon the Bill during the present Session, and stated that the measure, being intended as a consolidation of the existing law with respect to insurance and assurance institutions was necessarily a long one. The hon. Gentleman was continuing his statement, when,

It being a quarter to Six o'clock, the Debate was adjourned till Tomorrow.

House adjourned at five minutes before Six o'clock.