SECOND READING POSTPONED. (Hansard, 18 February 1861)

§ MR. DISRAELI
Sir, I wish to call attention to the mode in which the business of this House is conducted by the Government. We have already appointed a Committee to consider whether any changes could be introduced into the mode of conducting the public business which would tend to facilitate its progress through the House. Among other objections, one has been made to an ancient privilege of this House, which is certainly productive of some inconvenience—that of bringing forward Motions on going into Committee of Supply. One great evil arising out of the exercise of this privilege is that the House never knows when the main business of the evening will come on for discussion. When the Navy Estimates, for example, are on the paper, we come down and find some hon. Gentleman bringing forward the grievances of Whitechapel. Perhaps there may be good reasons for that course of procedure, but I wish more 537 particularly to call attention to the manner in which the programme of business is prepared for the information of the House by the Government. I came down tonight to discuss the Highways Bill, a subject in which my constituents—and the constituents, no doubt, of many hon. Gentlemen on both sides—are much interested. The Highways Bill stands first on the paper, but when it was called nobody proceeded with it. It ought to have been proceeded with; or, at least, those responsible for the Bill ought to have given some reason to the House why it was postponed. The second order is the Post Office Savings Banks Bill, a subject which at present engages public attention. I know that many hon. Members came down to-night purposely to receive information respecting that Bill, and to offer their opinions upon it; but that Bill also was passed over in silence, and the Minister responsible for it did not appear in his place to explain why the second measure appointed by the Government was not proceeded with. The next order on the paper—the Bankruptcy Bill—was certainly proceeded with, but only to a certain point. The Minister responsible for that Bill told us he believed there was an understanding that progress should not be made beyond a certain clause; and the consequence is that, at a comparatively early hour, there is no Government business before the House. As the Minister responsible for the Highways Bill was not in his place when it was called in its proper order it was postponed, according to our usual practice, until after the other orders. It has now been called again; but, although the Minister is present, he has not condescended to give us any reason why the arrangement of business devised by the Government has not been followed. I want to know what prospect there is of our conducting the public business with satisfaction to ourselves or to the country if the House is to be treated in this manner by the Government. I have always thought that, although there are many means by which the business of the House might be expedited, much must necessarily depend upon the management of Ministers. See what has happened to-night. Upon an important Government night, at the beginning of the week, we have a programme of business prepared and circulated for two days, and when we come down we find it is not realized in any respect. The only conclusion at which we can arrive is that 538 the conduct of business in that manner, if not the only cause, is a cause of the unsatisfactory state of public business. I think an explanation is due to the House by the Government upon these heads, and I await it with some interest.

SIR GEORGE LEWIS
Sir, I regret that any inconvenience has been caused by the circumstances to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred; but I think I can give an explanation which will be satisfactory to the House. I was perfectly prepared—indeed, it was my wish—to move the second reading of the Highways Bill to-night; but the hon. Member for Leominster (Mr. Hardy) on Friday evening asked me across the table whether, in consequence of the short time during which the Bill had been in the hands of hon. Members, I would consent to postpone the second reading. I said that as the time had been short I would consent to postpone the second reading, and I added that I would mention on Monday the day to which I should postpone it. Perhaps I ought to have moved the postponement on Friday night, but I distinctly stated that I would not move the second reading this evening. With respect to the Post Office Savings' Banks Bill, I believe my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is confined, if not to his bed, at all events to his room, by illness; and, consequently, it was not in his power to come down to the House to-night. If he had been able to attend in his place, he would have moved the second reading of the Bill. Such are the circumstances under which the Bankruptcy Bill came to have precedence; and I, for one, was under the impression that my hon. and learned Friend the Attorney General had stated publicly that he would not proceed beyond the 50th Clause. I presume he expected, remembering the long debates which took place last Session, that the first fifty clauses would occupy the House the whole of the evening. I am always sorry when hon. Members have reason to complain of any want of notice, but I trust they will see that there was no intentional omission on the part of the Government upon this occasion.

§ MR. BARROW
said, he hoped the right hon. Gentleman would not fix the Highways Bill for Thursday, as there was not much probability of its being proceeded with on that night. During the last Session he had come down forty nights expecting that the Highways Bill would be 539 brought forward, without its being proceeded with, and of that he felt he had some right to complain. It seemed useless to fix the order for Thursday, when the Bankruptcy Bill was likely to occupy them the whole of that evening.

SIR GEORGE LEWIS
admitted it to be probable that the Bankruptcy Bill would occupy the whole of Thursday evening, but it might not, and in that case was the Government to expose itself to the reproach of not placing on the paper sufficient business to last the whole of the night? It was very difficult to anticipate all the contingencies that might occur, and he could only say that he had no wish to bring down hon. Gentlemen when the business in which they took an interest was not likely to come on.

MR. HENLEY
said, he agreed with his right hon. Friend the Member for Bucks that the Government might fairly be expected to arrange their Bills in the order in which they were to be brought forward for discussion. Much inconvenience had been caused by the postponement of the Highways Bill and the Post Office Savings Banks Bill.