§ MR. MELDON moved that the Order for the Second Reading be postponed to the 19th June.
§ MR. O'SULLIVAN moved, as an Amendment, that the Order be discharged. He wished to know whether it was in Order for the hon. and learned Member for Kildare (Mr. Meldon) to pursue the course he had taken with regard to this measure? It had been before the House since July, 1876, when it was first introduced, and it related to a subject of great importance to Ireland; for they had many county infirmaries in that country, and—
§ MR. SPEAKERrose to Order, and remarked that on a Motion for the postponement of the second reading of the Bill, it was not competent to the hon. Member for Limerick (Mr. O'Sullivan) to discuss the merits of the Bill itself.
§ MR. O'SULLIVANsaid, he bowed to the decision of the Chair, and would only say that he thought the hon. and learned Member for Kildare was trifling with the House in bringing this measure forward as he had done. As he had stated, it was first brought before the House in July, 1876, and had been re-introduced since; and yet when the day fixed for its second reading had arrived, and the Bill was the first Order of the Day, it was 859 found that it had not been printed. He wished to ask whether the hon. and learned Gentleman was justified in such a course?
§ MR. SPEAKERI would point out to the hon. Member that it is the constant practice of this House for Members in charge of Bills to be allowed to postpone the different stages of those Bills as unopposed Motions; and if debates were to arise on questions of that character, it would become highly inconvenient to the House. The hon. Member states that the Bill has not yet been printed, and I am bound to say that is a very good reason for the postponement of the second reading. At the same time, I wish to point out that it is the duty of an hon. Member of this House who obtains leave to introduce a Bill, and who fixes the second reading for a particular day, to have the Bill printed. Under the circumstances, the hon. Member will probably think fit to withdraw his Amendment.
§ SIR JOSEPH M'KENNAsaid, hon. Members had complained, with a certain show of good reason, of the appearance on the Paper on Wednesday last of two Bills with a kindred object. The hon. Gentleman was about to explain the circumstances under which this had occurred, when—
§ MR. SPEAKER, said, the Motion before the House was the postponement of the second reading of this Bill, and the hon. Member must confine his observations to that Question.
§ SIR JOSEPH M'KENNAsaid, he did not think it was fair of the hon. and learned Member who had charge of the Bill to be trifling with the House in that manner. The Bill would appear to have been put in the place it held on the Order Paper as a species of ambuscade in order that another Bill might be marched to the front, and he hoped the House would discountenance such a practice.
§ MR. MELDONexplained that the only reason why the Bill had not been printed was that certain Returns which were moved for by the hon. Member for Carlow, which were of the utmost importance and had not yet been presented to the House.
§ MR. O'SULLIVANthought he had discharged his duty in calling attention to the matter, and he would, therefore, withdraw his Amendment; at the same time, he was of opinion that the hon. 860 and learned Member (Mr. Meldon) had treated the House very badly in not having the Bill printed.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Second Reading deferred till Wednesday, 19th June.