LEAVE. FIRST READING. (Hansard, 17 February 1880)

MR. STAVELEY HILL
begged leave to move— That the Chairman be directed to move the House, that leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend the Licensing Laws. The object of the Bill was to limit the jurisdiction of the Justices under the Licensing Act.

§ MR. MELDON
said, he did not wish to interfere with the proposed Bill of which he approved; but he wished to know from the Chairman if he had correctly stated the operation of the Rule—namely, that, in consequence of the hon. Member who had given Notice of opposition not having risen in his place to sustain such opposition, the Motion could be entertained by the Committee, notwithstanding that it was after half-past 12 o'clock. He (Mr. Meldon) was under the impression that such was not the practice, but that Notice of opposition having appeared on the Paper, once half-past 12 o'clock had been reached, it was not competent for the Committee, even with the express assent of the opposing Member, to entertain the Motion. He (Mr. Meldon) did not approve of the opposition to the Bill; but he thought it important that no doubt should exist as to the practice of the Committee in connection with what was known as the half-past 12 o'clock Rule.

THE CHAIRMAN
observed, that the hon. and learned Member for Kildare had correctly stated the Rule of the House; but in this case the Order for Committee was read before half-past 12.

§ MR. COURTNEY
thought that the Notice of opposition was one which applied to the Motion altogether.

THE CHAIRMAN
said, that the hon. Member for Liskeard had stated the fact correctly; but in this case the half-past 12 Rule did not apply, because the Order 878 for Committee had been called on and read before half-past 12.