HC Deb 24 March 1868 vol 191 cc206-7

Order for Third Reading read.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time."—(Mr. Gladstone.)

MR. HENLEY

hoped the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Lancashire would not go on with the Bill. ["Oh, oh!"] He thought reasonable time ought to be given to consider the Bill as it now stood. The Amendments have been put in by instalments, and time ought to be given to consider them. ["Oh!"]

SIR ROUNDELL PALMER

said, the right hon. Gentleman must well know that the Amendments were the result of the discussion which had taken place upon the Bill, and in reality did not alter the general character of the Bill at all. The Amendments were some days on the Paper, and no hon. Member offered any objection to them. The object of the new clauses had been to put church rates in parishes under local Acts as nearly as possible on the same footing with church rates elsewhere; to prevent the parishioners in new parishes from voting in respect of voluntary rates at vestries of the original or old parishes; and to allow owners the option of paying the rate instead of occupiers, giving them a vote in case they did so.

MR. NEWDEGATE

said, it was his intention to move the adjournment of the House. ["Oh!"] The hon. and learned Gentleman who last addressed the House had not said a word as to the purport of the Bill as it now stood. He (Mr. Newdegate) could show that the Bill as it now stood virtually infringed the parochial system of the country. He begged to move the Adjournment of the House.

Whereupon Motion made, and Question, "That this House do now adjourn,"—(Mr. Newdegate,)—put, and negatived.

Question again proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time."

MR. SCHREIBER

, remarking that it was not desirable that the House should adjourn until the Mutiny Bill had been introduced, moved the adjournment of the debate.

Motion made, and Question put, "That the Debate be now adjourned." — (Mr. Schreiber.)

The House divided:—Ayes 28; Noes 131: Majority 103.

MR. NEWDEGATE

said, that as the Motion for the third reading had been made after one o'clock in the morning, and as great exertions had been made to collect the party opposite while there were but few on that (the Ministerial) side of the House, he would make no further opposition. He would only say that the Bill would destroy the parochial system of the Church of England.

Original Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read the third time, and passed.