COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 26 June 1879)

§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. GIBSON)
trusted that. the hon. Member for Wexford (Mr. O'Clery) would report Progress, in conformity with an undertaking which he had given.

§ MR. O'CLERY
said, he was not aware that he had given any such undertaking; 808 but as the right hon. and learned Gentleman had a distinct understanding on the matter he felt himself bound by it, and would, if desired, move to report Progress, and, more especially, if there were any Amendments to discuss.

§ MR. PARNELL
said, that the Bill had been under the consideration of the Government for some time, and had been re-committed for the purpose of having alterations made in it, in accordance with the desire of the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney General for Ireland. The Secretary of State for War and the Government had had the matter before them for six or seven weeks, and he did not see any reason for postponing the Committee then.

THE CHAIRMAN
I must point out that there is no Question before the Committee. The Question is, that Clause 1 stand part of the Bill.

§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. GIBSON)
said, that the hon. Member for Wexford (Mr. O'Clery) had informed him (Mr. Gibson) that he would not fail to report Progress immediately that the Bill went into Committee. He had no objection himself to the Bill being taken then; but he knew that many hon. Members who wished to consider the Bill in its present stage, and move Amendments, had left the House. Further than that, the Bill had only been distributed that morning.

§ MAJOR NOLAN
suggested that the Bill should go through Committee then, on an understanding being given by the hon. Member in charge of the Bill (Mr. O'Clery) that there should be liberty to bring forward any Amendment on the Report.

§ COLONEL KING-HARMAN
said, that this Bill would be very useful to the country in every way, and he trusted that it would be allowed to pass.

THE CHAIRMAN
pointed out that the discussion was irregular on the Question that Clause 1 stand part of the Bill.

MR. DE LA POER BERESFORD
stated that he took as much interest as everyone else in the Bill; but he did not think it should be considered then. He begged to move to report Progress.
Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—(Mr, De La Boer Beresford.)

§ MR. STACPOOLE
said, that the Bill could be re-considered on Report. The Bill was much looked for in Ireland, and he hoped that it would be allowed to go through Committee then.

§ MR. O'CLERY
said, that, though personally anxious to have the Bill proceeded with, ho had no distinct recollection of the understanding stated by the right hon. and learned Gentleman opposite (Mr. Gibson); but he was willing to accept his recollection of it. But as several hon. Members were desirous of going on with the Bill he would ask him to re-consider the matter, and allow them to go through Committee.

§ MR. CALLAN
said, that the opposition to this Bill was of the nature of obstruction on the part of one hon. Member supporting the Government. The 1st section of the Bill was very simple, and he could see no objection to its passing. He trusted that the Government would restrain the eagerness of their supporters in the cause of obstruction to Public Business, and allow them to proceed. The Bill was approved of by the Government, and he would appeal to the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney General for Ireland to withdraw his objection to the Bill going through Committee.

§ MR. J. LOWTHER
said, that he was not aware of the understanding which it had been stated had been come to, nor in fact had he, until a moment ago, had any idea that the Bill would be brought on that night; but he thought there was a good deal to be said with regard to it not being taken at that hour. Of course, it would be quite impossible to proceed, if they arrived at any contested matter. Perhaps there would be no objection to take so much of the Bill as was unopposed, and then, if at any point objection was taken, to move to report Progress.

MR. DE LA POER BERESFORD
wished to make some explanation as to what had fallen from an hon. Member (Mr. Callan) on the other side of the House. He had remained in the House for the purpose of preventing this Bill going through Committee. There were many things in the Bill which he objected to, and many provisions required very careful discussion.

§ MR. PARNELL
thought that, rather than cause any unpleasantness between Irish Members on either side of the House, 810 it would be better to report Progress then, and to take the Bill at an early day.

§ COLONEL KING-HARMAN
asked that Progress might not then be reported, but that they might go on with the Bill so far as there was no opposition. He did not wish to detain the House by saying he considered that there was a very good feeling on both sides of the House with regard to the Bill, and that it was a very popular measure. The Bill dealt with a matter concerning a large number of Her Majesty's subjects, and it was hardly reasonable to require this postponement.

§ SIR ARTHUR HAYTER
said, that he had an Amendment to the Bill; but if the hon. Member in charge of the Bill would agree to report Progress after passing the 1st clause he should be content.

§ MR. O'CLERY
agreed that Progress should be reported after passing the 1st clause.

§ LORD FRANCIS CONYNGHAM
could not understand why there should be any opposition to one clause of the Bill being passed. The Bill had been before the House some time. He had the honour to have his name on the back of the Bill, and he could not see why the 1st clause should not be passed before they reported Progress.
Motion negatived.