HC Deb 12 July 1878 vol 241 cc1424-6

(Sir Henry Selwin-Ibbetson, Colonel Stanley, Mr. William Henry Smith.)

[BILL 169.] COMMITTEE.

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY

moved to report Progress.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—(Mr. O'Shaughnessy.)

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

opposed the Motion.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause 2 (Limitation of amount of gratuity).

MR. PARNELL

moved, at page 2, line 22, to leave out from "with" to "promotion," inclusive. The effect of his proposal would be to make provision for the lower class of clerks who would have compulsorily to resign under the provisions of the Bill.

COLONEL STANLEY

said, there could be no doubt that under the measure a somewhat painful process would have to be gone through; and those who had charge of the Bill were desirous of not making that process any more stringent than was absolutely necessary. He could not accept, at a moment's notice, the Motion of the hon. Member for Meath; but he would be glad to be made acquainted with the facts on this subject, which he had no doubt the hon. Member possessed. Meanwhile, the clause as it stood might be allowed to pass pro formâ; and, on the stage of Report, the hon. Member could again call attention to the matter, if he thought that necessary. There was every disposition on the part of the Government to look into the matter, and to deal with the whole subject as fairly as possible.

SIR JOSEPH M'KENNA

hoped that the course which the right hon. and gallant Gentleman had just indicated would be followed.

MR. PARNELL

desired to state that he had not been instructed or communicated with by any of those whom the clause would affect. He simply acted as he had done from a feeling of justice. The clause would leave those who were called supplementary clerks without any retiring allowance whatever.

COLONEL STANLEY

said, he was willing to omit the word "all" pro formâ, in order to insure that the matter might be discussed on Report.

MR. BIGGAR

moved that the Chairman report Progress. Neither the chief of the War Office nor the chief of the Navy appeared to have the slightest notion as to what the effect of the Bill would really be; but, if Progress were reported, those right hon. Gentlemen would be afforded an opportunity of looking into the subject.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—(Mr. Biggar.)

MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY

did not desire to place any obstacle in the way of the Bill; but he thought that Progress might now be reported, as proposed.

MR. W. H. SMITH

said, it was very important that the Bill should be passed through Committee as rapidly as possible. The measure concerned the interests of a large number of gentlemen who were seriously disturbed at the uncertainty of their prospects; and it would be most unkind to keep this matter hanging over their heads. The Government were desirous that the change which was necessary should be made in a manner the least painful and injurious to those whom it would affect, and therefore it was advisable that the measure should not be unnecessarily delayed; but, in all the circumstances, he would consent to Progress being now reported, and to the Bill being taken again on Monday.

Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Monday next.

House adjourned at a quarter after One o'clock, till Monday next.