HC Deb 08 August 1879 vol 249 cc504-6
SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

said, he had the following Notice on the Paper:— To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is the intention of Government to proceed with the Supreme Court of Judicature Officers Bill, the Supreme Court of Judicature Acts Amendment Bill, the Great Seal Bill, and the Courts of Justice Building Act (1865) Amendment Bill? Inasmuch as the fourth Bill mentioned died at an early hour this morning, he would simply put the Question as to the other three.

MR. CHILDERS

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he would be good enough to state to the House the whole of the Bills he intended to abandon? Many Members were naturally anxious to get away from town; but unless they received some assurance on this point they would be compelled to remain over Sunday, which, in certain cases, would be inconvenient. With respect to the Public Works Loans Bill especially, he thought the objectionable clauses ought to be eliminated and referred to a Select Committee next Session.

MR. M. BROOKS

asked the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he did not think it advisable that the Order for the Committee on the Local Courts of Bankruptcy (Ireland) Bill should be discharged, seeing that there were many Amendments to it on the Paper?

MR. SHAW

hoped most sincerely that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not accede to the request of his hon. Friend the Member for Dublin. The Bill had been before the House for two years, and great importance was attached to it by the mercantile community in Ireland.

MR. GOURLEY

wished to know, Whether the Chancellor of the Exche- quer saw any reason why hon. Members should leave before the Business of the House was concluded? He confessed that he had been absent a week; but he had come now for the purpose of remaining until the Business was concluded.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, he should be very glad if it was in his power to give such an answer as would enable hon. Members who were anxious to leave London to do so instead of following the excellent example of the hon. Gentleman who had just spoken. But he was bound by his duty not to make unnecessary public sacrifices in order to secure that desirable object. He was afraid that at that moment he could not exactly tell what Bills he would absolutely abandon. There were certain legal Bills, for instance, that had passed the House of Lords. They were in a forward position in the House of Commons, and it would be wrong for him to give them up at the present juncture. He would, however, endeavour by consultation with his Colleagues to decide what Bills really would be persevered with, and would at once communicate his intentions to the House. The Courts of Justice Building Act (1865) Amendment Bill had already been withdrawn; but there was no reason why the Bills relating to the Supreme Court of Judicature and the Great Seal should not be passed. The Local Courts of Bankruptcy (Ireland) Bill had passed the House of Lords, and was in an advanced stage. He hoped in that case, also, there would be a probability of passing the measure, together with various Money and Continuance Bills which stood on the Paper. As to the Public Works Loans Bill, it would be brought forward to-morrow, when he would make a statement as to the circumstances which rendered the Bill necessary, and also as to the modifications which he was prepared to make in it. Speaking generally, he would be prepared to leave out the clause which prevented money being repaid by way of annuity, that being a question which he thought might stand over for further examination, and he should introduce provisions to secure all arrangements which were bonâ fide in progress. With regard, however, to the limitation of the rates of interest and the amount to be advanced in one year, those were clauses which he should not be prepared to withdraw. He would probably be able to make a further statement at 7 o'clock.

MR. BERESFORD HOPE

asked, When the Report on the Irish University Bill would be taken?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

On Monday. It will be the Second Order, the Appropriation Bill being the first.