§ (In the Committee.)
§ MR. VERNERmoved that the Chairman report Progress, alleging that the hon. Member for Armagh (Mr. Vance) and other Members had left the House under the full impression that the Bill would not be proceeded with at so late an hour.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—(Mr. Verner.)
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHthought that a question of such import- 129 ance should not be proceeded with at so late an hour.
§ MR. BUTT, who had charge of the Bill, opposed the Motion, urging that he could not get any other time for bringing on the Bill, and that he had a distinct pledge from the Chief Secretary that the Government approved of the Bill in principle.
§ MR. D. PLUNKETsaid, the Bill was, he believed, opposed to the opinion of every well educated and respectable person in Dublin.
§ MR. BUTTreminded the Chief Secretary for Ireland that he gave a distinct pledge that he would not attempt to alter the principle of the Bill or delay its progress.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHsaid, he did not violate any pledge in objecting to go on at that hour.
§ Question put.
§ The Committee divided:—Ayes 75; Noes 47: Majority 28.
§ Committee report Progress; to sit again To-morrow.