§ MR. CALLANsaid, he wished to call attention to a Motion of his which stood on the Paper, and to the course of procedure in regard to it. Some 10 days or a fortnight ago he placed a Motion on the Paper—
§ MR. SPEAKERDoes the hon. Gentleman rise to speak on the Motion. [Mr. CALLAN, Yes!] Then that of the noble Lord the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Frederick Cavendish) stands before it.
§ MR. CALLANsaid, some days ago he moved for a certain Return, but he was informed that in that form his Return could not be granted. On Saturday, however, he replaced half of it, to which he understood there was no objection, on the Paper, and he was informed by the Chief Secretary that he was surprised to see a Notice of opposition to it, and that he had requested the hon. Member for Stockton (Mr. Dodds) to withdraw it, which he had done, or at least, he was informed that the hon. Gen- 778 tleman did not repeat his Notice of opposition. Under these circumstances he was surprised that the Clerks at the Table had renewed the Notice of opposition. Of course, if he had placed on the Paper an exactly similar Notice to that which had formerly been objected to, there might be some excuse for the Clerks renewing the objection, but when a Return was substantially altered, he had to ask whether it was competent for the Clerk at a Table unauthorized—as he advisedly said—thus to place a Notice of objection to a Return in this way.
§ Notice taken that 40 Members were not present; House counted, and 40 Members not being found present,
§ House adjourned at a quarter after Two o'clock.