HC Deb 21 March 1867 vol 186 cc290-3

In reply to Mr. OTWAY,

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

I stated the other evening that I would give the most ample notice of the course I intend to take on this subject. I wish, with the utmost fairness, to give the hon. Gentleman and those who agreed with him in opinion public notice when, after the second reading, I would take the Committee. I thought I had given due notice of the Committee by placing it on the Orders; but since coming into the House have learned that it is considered by some that I have not fully redeemed my pledge; but I desire to do so, and therefore will postpone the Committee until to-morrow night.

MR. HORSMAN

Will Supply not be taken to-morrow night? Perhaps the right hon. Baronet will not bring on the Committee on the Mutiny Bill after a tolerably early hour.

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

There is no intention whatever to interfere with the usual arrangement with regard to Supply. Perhaps the best course will be not to take the Mutiny Bill till after eleven o'clock.

MR. AYRTON

Will the right hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for War be good enough to state the intention of His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief to give effect to the Resolution of the House relative to flogging, before moving the House into Committee on the Mutiny Bill?

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

I can only say that neither now nor at any future time can I make any communication on the part of His Royal Highness which I am not authorized by His Royal Highness to make.

MR. DARBY GRIFFITH

said, he thought the Secretary of State for War had not quite understood the meaning of the Question put on the other side—whether, on account of the division which took place the other evening, it was his intention to make any communication to the House, or on his own part to the Commander-in-Chief?

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

The only answer I can give to the Question of the hon. Member is that any communication I think it right to make to the House on this subject I will make at the proper time.

CAPTAIN VIVIAN

said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, whether he will consent to put off the Mutiny Bill until some night next week, instead of taking it to-morrow night at eleven o'clock? The Bill would give rise to a long discussion, and the Question could scarcely be fully argued at so late an hour.

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

I wish to act in this matter with the most perfect fairness. Hon. Gentlemen opposite are aware that the Mutiny Bill must be passed by the 27th of next month, and that therefore, looking at the state of public business, no time is to be lost in introducing it. However, I will proceed with the Bill on any day which may be agreeable to hon. Members; but I think that the best course to take will be to allow the arrangement I have made for to-morrow night to stand, when, if it is found to be inconvenient to take it that night, some evening may be named that will suit the wishes of hon. Gentlemen.

MR. OTWAY

said, he would beg to remark that the right hon. Baronet had come down to the House on the night following the division of the House on the question of Corporal Punishment in the Army, and had announced that he intended to disregard the Resolution, inasmuch as it had only been carried by a majority of 1. The right hon. Gentleman had challenged the supporters of the Resolution to raise the issue again when the Mutiny Bill was discussed; and therefore every opportunity should be given to hon. Members for discussing the question when it was again brought before them. Now, as it was impossible that such an important question could be properly argued at the late hour proposed for to-morrow, he thought it would be better if the right hon. Gentleman would at once name some night in the next week for bringing on the subject.

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

I need scarcely remind the hon. Member that the attention of the House on Monday night is likely to be fully occupied, and that it is impossible to say how long the debate on the Reform Bill is likely to last. I can only repeat that, in my opinion, it will be better to allow the arrangement I have made with regard to to-morrow to stand.

MR. HORSMAN

said, he must bear testimony to the fairness with which the right hon. Gentleman had acted in regard to this matter. ["Order, order!"]

MR. SPEAKER

said, the right hon. Gentleman must confine himself to the Question he proposed to put.

MR. HORSMAN

said, he merely wished to say as much as would render his question intelligible. The question he wished to put to the right hon. Baronet was, whether, as the question which was to be raised tomorrow night was likely to give rise to a discussion which would last three or four hours, it would not be better if hon. Members were saved the trouble of attending, by one day next week being named for bringing the subject before the House?

SIR JOHN PAKINGTON

said, he must decline to accede to the proposal.