HC Deb 09 August 1878 vol 242 cc1713-4

Order for Committee read.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House will this day resolve itself into the said Committee."—(Mr. Wheelhouse.)

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

moved, as an Amendment, that the stage be taken on Thursday (August 15.)

MR. COURTNEY

seconded the Amendment.

Amendment proposed, to leave out the words "this day," in order to insert the words "upon Thursday next,"— (Sir Charles W. Dilke,)—instead thereof.

MR. WHEELHOUSE

said, he could not assent to the Amendment. The Bill had been on the Paper for several months, and he had wished to be able to pass it; but its progress had been met with most persistent opposition. He saw no chance of making progress, unless he was allowed to put it down for the Saturday Sitting, and therefore he must persist with his Motion. As far as the general principle was concerned, he did not think the Bill of any private Member should be put down for a Saturday Sitting; but as he understood that a private Member's Bill was to take first place among the Orders of the Day, he saw no reason for giving up the privilege—right he should prefer to call it—of putting his own Bill upon the Paper. He should therefore persist in his right not only to put his Bill among the Orders of the Day, but to take the precedence which was his due in accordance with the Rules which regulated the conduct of Business.

MR. W. E. FORSTER

thought the hon. and learned Member for Leeds (Mr. Wheelhouse) had himself given a strong reason for not putting his Bill on the Orders for a Saturday Sitting, by stating that through several months its progress had been persistently opposed. It must be obvious to the hon. and learned Gentleman that under the circumstances he had himself mentioned, there was no chance of his being able to pass the Bill in the course of the few remaining days of the present Session.

MR. ONSLOW

hoped his hon. and learned Friend would not divide. There was little or no chance of his passing his Bill that Session, and he thought it highly desirable that no private Member's Bill should be taken at a Saturday Sitting so close to the end of the Session.

Question put, "That the words 'this day' stand part of Question."

The House divided:—Ayes 33; Noes 48: Majority 15.—(Div. List, No. 267.)

Words inserted.

Main Question, as amended, put.

Resolved, That this House will, upon Thursday next, resolve itself into the said Committee.