HC Deb 08 April 1872 vol 210 cc895-6
SIR JOHN TRELAWNY

said, he was extremely unwilling to take up the time of the House unless he was absolutely-compelled to do so, and that was the case now. The Government had given Notice of their intention to bring on the Contagious Diseases question—the second reading of the Bill—on the 22nd of April, and he had given Notice of his intention to move that there should be a Call of the House on the day of the second reading. The shortness of the interval between the present time and the 22nd instant, however, rendered it impossible for him to give satisfactory Notice of his Motion that there should be a Call of the House on the occasion in question. It must be recollected that on this matter they had no Government, or, what was worse than no Government, petticoat Government; and that the Government had, in fact, abdicated its functions, because it was stated that the measures in force had been productive of good and were in advance of the age, and yet the Government proposed to repeal the Acts in deference to the will of the prava jubentium. So far from having a Premier on this question, they had only a "Dernier," and the House being the Cabinet, it was right that all hon. Members should share the responsibility of what was done; at least he, for one, did not wish to take more than his own share of the responsibility. As they thought proper in deference to an opinion out-of-doors to take a course which they conscientiously believed to be wrong, he was entitled to ask for an opportunity of bringing forward his Motion. He therefore asked that the measure might be postponed from the 22nd of April to a time when it could with certainty be brought on, so that he might not be compelled to come down to the House night after night, and remain till 2 o'clock in the morning, in order not to miss the chance of moving that the "Call" should be made.

MR. BRUCE

said, he should be very sorry, indeed, that the hon. Baronet should be put to so much inconvenience to gain the opportunity of moving his Resolution and opposing the Bill; but he might rest assured that when the Government saw its way to bringing on the second reading of the Bill, they would give the hon. Baronet notice sufficient for the purpose.

Motion agreed to.

House in Committee.

MR. GLADSTONE

I move that Mr. Bonham-Carter do take the Chair.

Motion agreed to; and Mr. BONBAM-CARTER having taken the Chair—

WAYS AND MEANS—considered.

After short time, the Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Wednesday.