HC Deb 07 August 1874 vol 221 cc1425-6
SIR GEORGE BOWYER

said, he wished to call attention to what he regarded as the dictatorial nature of a speech which had been made by a Member of the Government in "another place" on the previous day. The noble Lord in question had endeavoured to pledge the Government not to reconsider the question of the jurisdiction of the House of Lords as the final Court of Appeal, but to re-introduce the Judicature 'Bills in the shape in which they had been withdrawn.

MR. SPEAKER

reminded the hon. Baronet that there was no Question before the House.

SIR GEORGE BOWYER

said, in that case, to put himself in Order, he would move the adjournment of the House. He believed that the withdrawal of the Bills had given great satisfaction to the Judges and to the Bar both in Ireland and Scotland, and certainly to the Bar in England. In Ireland, the abolition of the appellate jurisdiction of the House of Lords was looked upon as uncalled for, unnecessary, unconstitutional, and revolutionary; and it was considered that the Court which was proposed to be constituted in lieu of the House of Lords was unsatisfactory, and would certainly not carry with it that dignity, weight, and experience which attached to the Upper House. He trusted the Government would not allow themselves to be dictated to by the noble Lord to whom reference had been made, and who, with another noble Lord, had adopted a most dictatorial course.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."—(Sir George Bowyer.)

MR. M'CARTHY DOWNING

wished it to be understood that the hon. Baronet had not expressed the general feeling of the Irish Members, and he trusted that the Government would not listen to the hon. Baronet's suggestion.

Question put, and negatived.