HC Deb 28 April 1868 vol 191 c1464
MR. GREENE

(who had on the Paper a Notice respecting Colliery Accidents and for the appointment of a Royal Commission on the subject) said, he had the right, as his name was first on the Paper, to bring the Motion forward. ["Oh, oh!"] If hon. Members opposite thought that they could put him down he begged to tell them that they would not do it if they tried till six o'clock next morning. ["Oh, oh!"] If the interruptions were continued he would persevere with his Motion. ["Oh, oh!"] He was in earnest about it. He felt very strongly on the subject; and if it were not that he thought he should be doing the cause an injury by now pressing the Motion he certainly should not be inclined to withdraw it. He believed it to be as much more important than the Irish question as the Abyssinian war was to a street row, ["Oh, oh!"] He desired to remind hon. Members that 2,468 men were killed in coal mines in the short space of two years. If any hon. Gentleman opposite did not think that that was important, perhaps he would get up and say so. ["Oh, oh!"] He desired to say that if hon. Members thought they could ever stop him, they were mistaken. They had taken the wrong man in hand; but at the same time he did not intend to press the Motion. He withdrew it at the wish of the Government; but he hoped that they would give him some other day for bringing it forward.