[BILL 22.] COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 3 March 1875)

§ MR. MONK
said, he must protest against the Bill being proceeded with on that day, as he had been given to understand by the hon. Member who had it in charge that it would not be brought on; indeed, the hon. Member for Stafford had told him he should put it down for Friday next. He admitted that a more convenient course would have been to move the rejection of the Bill on the second reading; but he had been taken by surprise by the statement that the Bill had been so materially altered from that of last year as to induce his hon. Friend the Member for the University of Cambridge (Mr. Beresford Hope) to withdraw his opposition to the second reading. He found, however, on examination, that, clause for clause, line for line, and word for word, this Bill and that of last year were identical. He thought the Bill one of a dangerous tendency. It interfered prejudicially with the parochial system of the country, and would introduce strife and animosity in half the parishes of England. It would interfere in the most unjustifiable manner with the rights both of parishioners and incumbents, and place irresponsible power in the hands of the Bishops. He looked upon it also as a great interference with the rights of patrons. It was, in fact, so mischievous in its provisions, that if the hon. Member for Stafford succeeded in carrying it, he would most effectually do the work of the Liberation Society and drive another 1173 nail into the coffin of the Church of England. It was desirable to know what the views of the Government were on the subject, and if he met with any support from that quarter, he should take the sense of the House as to the desirability of proceeding further with the measure. He would move that the Committee be postponed for six months.

§ MR. BERESFORD HOPE
said, he would move the adjournment of the debate. He also had been taken by surprise by the Motion of the hon. Member for Stafford to proceed with the Committee that evening. He certainly understood his hon. Friend had agreed to fix the Committee for Friday next, and had never imagined such a Motion would be made in so thin a House, and nearly at the close of the sitting. He protested against such a proceeding, and must press the Motion for adjournment.

§ MR. SALT
said, he was sorry if his hon. Friends had misundersood him. A few hurried words had certainly passed between himself and thorn, but he had no idea that he had pledged himself not to bring on the Bill that afternoon. On the contrary, he thought he had been most guarded in his conversation with his hon. Friends, and the impression on his mind was, that he had not definitely named any day on which he would go on with it. Last week he missed a capital opportunity for going into Committee to oblige the hon. Member for Cambridge University. Now the Bill had been placed on the Paper for the present evening not by his own action but by the ordinary Rules of the House. If, however, he had left any false impression on the minds of his hon. Friends, he apologized for it. He thought himself justified in going into Committee on the earliest opportunity; 1174 but as the Bill was opposed, he would not go on with it now.