THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONmoved—
That the Orders of the Day he postponed until after the several Notices of Motion for Addresses praying Her Majesty to appoint Commissioners to inquire into Corrupt Practices at certain Elections.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONsaid, he had given Notice, on the previous day, that he should take that opportunity of asking the noble Marquess a Question with regard to the Eastern Question. Since he gave that Notice, however, he had found that it might be dangerous to the second reading of the Appropriation Bill to raise such a discussion at the present stage. If, therefore, he received any sort of promise or assurance that he should have an opportunity of making the remarks he wished to offer, he should not delay the Business of the House at that moment.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, he trusted that there might be an opportunity for a short discussion; at all events, he thought the discussion might be raised on the second reading of the Appropriation Bill without risking the loss of the stage of that measure. After that day there were two more stages of the Bill on which his hon. Friend might, undoubtedly, make any remarks on foreign affairs which he thought necessary. In saying this he did not wish to be understood as saying that, in the opinion of the Government, a discussion on the statement made in "another place," which he repeated yesterday, would be at all for the benefit of the public service. However, if his hon. Friend thought it necessary to put any question, he should not prevent him doing so. He might take that opportunity of saying that he hoped hon. Members who had Motions on the second reading of the Appropriation Bill might be induced not to press them, if a discussion would make it impossible to take the stage of the Bill that day. He believed that the House was anxious that this protracted Session should close, and hon. Members were aware that this depended on the progress of the Appropriation Bill. The two further stages of 967 the Bill he hoped would be taken tomorrow or next day. There would then be ample opportunity for discussion.
§ MR. A. MOOREsaid, the first was a Motion that stood in his name, to draw attention to certain abuses and irregularities in the Belfast workhouse; and to move—
That, in the opinion of this House, prompt measures are necessary to restore public confidence in this institution.He had no wish, however, to delay the House if the Government would give him an undertaking that he should have a subsequent opportunity of bringing on this Motion. At the same time, he felt bound to complain that there had never been a Session when the rights of private Members had been more taken up by the Government than in the present Session.
§ MR. SPEAKERI think it right to point out to the hon. Member that the Resolution which he proposes to move is not relative to the Appropriation Bill. It will be open for him to make any general observations on the matter he referred to in the Motion; but he could not move his Resolution as an Amendment to the second reading.
§ MR. A. MOORE, with all respect, submitted to Mr. Speaker that the concluding part of the Motion was applicable to the Appropriation Bill, seeing that it related to the conduct of a public board which was paid for out of the taxes of the country, and, therefore, came under the Estimates. He apprehended that that was a subject which might probably be found appropriate to the Appropriation Bill.
§ MR. BOURKEsaid, the general feeling of the House was that the suggestion of the noble Marquess should be acceded to, and that all the Business on the Paper should be got through. He was sure the noble Marquess would give the hon. Baronet the Member for Carlisle (Sir Wilfrid Lawson) an opportunity of discussing the question he wished to raise; and it would be better to discuss such an important subject when the House was not occupied with other things.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONremarked, that if the second reading of the Appropriation Bill was got through in reasonable time that day he could say what he wished, which would not occupy much time. If not, he would put off 968 his observations until to-morrow (Thursday), on the understanding that the Bill would be the first Order of the Day.
MR. J. COWENsaid, he understood the noble Marquess to state that it would be inconvenient to the public service that there should be any discussion at all on this matter, and that he was not prepared to make any further statement. That was a very awkward position for the House to be placed in. They were about separating for perhaps six months; and the Cabinet, therefore, would be able to pursue its action uncriticized, unchallenged, and uncommented on. He thought, therefore, it was desirable that the noble Marquess should make a more complete statement as to the object of this adventure of coercion which the Government seemed disposed to engage in. He thought such an explanation would be of advantage to the country and to Parliament. There was, however, no desire to press the Government if they said that it would be inconvenient to the public service; and he thought it would probably be best for his hon. Friend to abandon his intention to-day and make his statement on the Appropriation Bill to-morrow, thereby affording the noble Marquess an opportunity of re-considering his determination.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONsaid, he had no desire to interfere with the convenience of the House; and he was willing to take the course suggested.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, he did not think he could add anything to what he had already stated. He was inclined to think it would be impossible for him, consistently with the public service, substantially to extend the statement he had made, and that which his noble Friend (Earl Granville) had made in "another place;" but, of course, it was impossible to state, until he heard the Question of the hon. Baronet the Member for Carlisle, whether it would be advisable to give an answer or not. He should not like to pledge himself that the Appropriation Bill would be the First Order on the following day. If it were not it could only be preceded by some very urgent Business. But, no doubt, the Appropriation Bill would be taken almost immediately after the House met on the following day.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURthought it was the invariable practice to put the Appropriation Bill first.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, there was a certain Bill which must be sent to the House of Lords at once.
§ Motion agreed to.