HC Deb 12 February 1877 vol 232 cc181-3

Order for Second Reading read.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, its object was to remove certain electoral anomalies. It had already been before the House two Sessions, and had on several occasions been approved by large majorities.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Sir H. Drummond Wolf)

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

said, that the Bill had not been delivered, and therefore the House could not proceed with the discussion of it. He moved that the debate be adjourned.

MR. DILLWYN

seconded the Motion.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Debate be now adjourned."—(Sir Charles W.Dilks.)

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

said, he thought the hon. Baronet must know it by heart by this time. It was by some gross negligence that it had not been delivered, for it had been given to be printed on Friday, and other Bills sent in that day had been delivered that morning. The fault had lain with the printer, but copies had been sent to the House in the course of the day, and were now lying on the Table. He thought the objection taken was merely a pretext, and, believing himself to be quite in Order, he would not withdraw the Motion.

MR. KNATCHBULL - HUGESSEN

knew nothing of the Bill, and could not therefore discuss it. But he appealed to the Government not to support the inconvenient precedent of reading a Bill a second time before it had been printed and delivered to hon. Members. This Bill might be approved by hon. Gentlemen opposite and it might be an excellent Bill, but he would warn the Government that in future Parliaments there might be in a similar position some Bill which they and their friends greatly disapproved, and they might find the precedent quoted against them. It was an almost invariable rule of the House to insist that a Bill should be printed before it was allowed to be read a second time, and he hoped there would be no departure from this salutary rule.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

sympathized with his hon. Friend on the hard fortune he had experienced in connection with this Bill on former occasions, and which seemed to be still pursuing him. The Bill was short, and might have been printed and distributed in a few hours, and it was so well known that, had it been circulated, there could have been no objection to proceeding with the second reading at this early period of the Session. He was bound, however, to recognize the force of the objection taken by hon. Gentlemen opposite. They had to choose between a general convenience and a particular in- convenience, and they must bear in mind that hard cases made bad law. This seemed to him a hard case; but if they were on this occasion to infringe the unwritten rule which forbade the discussion of a Bill before its delivery, they would, he thought, be setting a very bad precedent, and he must therefore advise his hon. Friend to consent to a postponement of the Motion.

SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFF

said, out of deference to the House, he had no alternative but to yield to the appeal; but he hoped the Government would give him a day.

Question put, and agreed to.

Debate adjourned till To-morrow.