HC Deb 12 August 1879 vol 249 cc906-7

Order for Committee read.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, he was sorry to say that, looking at the position of the Business, and considering that it was now too late to take this Bill to-night, he feared it would be impossible to proceed with it; and he would, therefore, move that the Order be discharged. He did so with regret, and he hoped in another Session to have an opportunity of bringing in a Bill which he believed would be very useful and very acceptable to a great number of the people of Ireland.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Order for Committee be discharged."—(Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.)

MR. MURPHY

very much regretted to hear the announcement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Bill had been a long time before the House. It was brought in also last year; but at the instigation of some professional gentlemen it had not been allowed to proceed. ["No!"] However that might be, he trusted that the important constituencies of Belfast and Cork, which were so much interested in the Bill, would be satisfied with the assurance given, and he hoped that the next measure would be brought in in time to meet the obstruction which the lapsed Bill had met with.

MR. CALLAN

should have thought a glance at the Order Book would show that the Bill did not give general satisfaction, and was not likely to receive the approbation of the people of Ireland or the merchants of this country. Notices of opposition were placed upon the Paper by Representatives of some of the largest trading communities in Great Britain, and that was proof in itself that the Bill was essentially a bad Bill, and that, if another Bill were introduced next Session, it should be on considerably different lines. He hoped that any new Bankruptcy Amendment Bill would be, not a tinkering and meddling little scheme, but a general and well-considered measure.

MR. J. P. CORRY

said, the large and important borough he represented had looked forward to the passing of this Bill this Session. The organization which had stopped it had been got up by the practitioners in Dublin and their friends; and in that way a measure had been hindered which would be very useful to the large mercantile community of Cork and Belfast. However, he hoped it would be re-introduced next Session, and carried through at an earlier period.

MR. M. BROOKS

said, the Bill had been condemned by a large number of traders, not only in Dublin but elsewhere; and he hoped that next Session, if the Bill was re-introduced, more information would be given than had been forthcoming on the present occasion.

SIR JOSEPH M'KENNA

thought a Bill of this important character ought to have been introduced earlier in the Session, and hoped this would be borne in mind next year.

Motion agreed to.

Order discharged; Bill withdrawn.