§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in moving that the Standing Orders respecting the Sittings of the House on Wednesdays be suspended that day, said, he did not anticipate that the Sitting would be prolonged beyond the usual time; but it was necessary to take the power, in order that certain measures might be advanced a stage.
§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That the Standing Orders respecting the Sittings of the House on Wednesday be suspended this day."—(Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.)
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKE moved that they be not suspended, on the ground that it would set a bad precedent. If there had been the slightest risk of checking the progress of the Appropriation Bill, he should not have raised any objection to the proposal; but he objected to the Motion on the ground that the Government had not, as was usual on such occasions, placed the Appropriation Bill first on the Paper, but had put it low down on the list, in order to pass some other measures in 915 which they were interested. There was no necessity to suspend the Standing Orders, as far as the Appropriation Bill was concerned, for it was in no jeopardy. But there were one or two other Government Bills against which strong opposition existed, which the Treasury Bench were evidently determined to force through. Against that he protested, as it gave the Government an unfair advantage. Were the Standing Orders suspended, they could keep the House sitting as long as they liked, until they obtained all they desired in the passing of certain Bills, which, to certain Members, were very objectionable. He did not think that the suspension of the Standing Orders would be fraught with any danger; but it would certainly be setting an evil example and precedent. He regretted that the Government had made the proposal, and he hoped they would not press it.
§ MR. ANDERSONseconded the Amendment, and contended that the House ought not to be asked that day to do more than pass the various stages of the Appropriation Bill, and one or two other Government measures, such as the Banking and Joint Stock Companies Bill and the Public Works Loans (No. 2) Bill.
§ Amendment proposed, after the word "be," to insert the word "not" in the said Motion.—(Sir Charles W. Dilke.)
§ MR. B. WILLIAMSpointed out that there was a strong objection to the passing that Session of the Supreme Court of Judicature Amendment Bill.
§ MR. ASSHETONagreed very much with hon. Members opposite that they ought not to be asked to suspend the Standing Orders; but, on the other hand, no harm could happen by their doing so that day, as the Government, he understood, had arranged to visit Greenwich soon after 6 o'clock, and must, therefore, leave by the steamer at a fixed hour.
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVREthought the fact just stated was a good reason for dropping the opposed Bills.
§ MR. RYLANDScomplained that the Appropriation Bill was not the first Order so that any matter of urgency might be raised upon it; but, in the actual position of affairs, would support the suspension of the Standing Orders, in the hope that the objection 916 able Bills would be dropped, and no assistance would be given to private Members to proceed with opposed Motions.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERexplained that the Government had been partly driven to the course they had taken by the necessity of providing time for the discussion of the Motion of the hon. Member for Hackney (Mr. Fawcett) with respect to the London water supply. He hoped they would be able to pass the Supreme Court of Judicature (Officers) Bill, as it was very important; but if they could not deal with it at the present Sitting it must be put off until to-morrow. With respect to the Great Seal Bill, and the Border Summons Bill, if they threatened to give rise to discussion, he had no objection to their being put off till Thursday.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLcomplained of the way in which the Scotch Business had been treated that Session. The Government had been hurrying their Bills through in such a way that, as regarded the Banking and Joint Stock Companies Bill and the Public Works Loans (No. 2) Bill, which had not been re-printed, there was not one hon. Member in 50 who now knew what was in them, though they were now asked to pass them finally. There was one Scotch Bill which had not even got the chance of a hurried passage, but which had been dropped altogether. The last days of the Session had been occupied in giving great gifts to Ireland, far in excess of what had been given to other parts of the United Kingdom. The Scotch Bill was not intended to give to Scotland a gift not given to other parts of the country, but was intended to put Scotland, in regard to medical relief grants, on the same footing as other parts of the Kingdom. It seemed to him a monstrous thing that, while these great gifts to Ireland were pushed through at the end of the Session, the Government could not find time to give Scotland a little bit of financial justice. It almost appeared as if Scotland would not get justice until they made themselves more disagreeable and objectionable. The Secretary of State for the Home Department had stated yesterday that if the Scotch Bill did not pass it was the fault of those Scotch Members who had put down Notices preventing it being 917 taken after half-past 12. But he (Sir George Campbell) protested against the doctrine that they should be content with what they could get at 3 in the morning without objecting, or get nothing at all. If Scotch Business was to be brought forward, it ought to be at a reasonable hour. Besides, the Bill would never have been blocked, had the Government not tacked on to the one object they all wanted some contentious matter, which hon. Members were entirely right in objecting to. The Government might have given them a little quarter-of-an-hour at a reasonable period of the Session for this Bill.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEsaid, that after that concession on the part of the Chancellor of the Exchequer; he would withdraw his Amendment.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Ordered, That the Standing Orders respecting the Sittings of the House on Wednesday be suspended this day.