HC Deb 23 February 1882 vol 266 cc1482-4

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £18,000, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March 1882, for the Salaries of the Law Officers; the Salaries and Expenses of the Department of the Solicitor for the Affairs of Her Majesty's Treasury, &c, &c.

MR. SEXTON

said, this was one of the two Votes they desired to have postponed. The hon. Member for Wexford (Mr. Healy) had just pointed out that upon this Vote it was intended to discuss the prosecution of Herr Most and the whole question of the seizure of newspapers in Ireland. It was quite impossible to proceed with a Vote involving such important issues at such a late hour.

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

said, it was necessary these Votes should be taken on an early date. He was afraid if they did not get the Votes tonight they would either have to sit tomorrow or on Saturday. He would suggest they should sit late now.

MR. LEAMY

considered it unfair to expect them to discuss such important Votes at so late an hour.

MR. HEALY

said, the noble Lord had evidently not heard what had been said. It was upon the understanding that the present and another Vote be postponed that the Motion for reporting Progress was withdrawn.

MR. CALLAN

suggested, as a compromise, the postponement of all the Votes in Class III. To taking the Votes in Class IV.—namely, those for the Science and Art Department, London University, and the Transit of Venus, there would be no objection, unless it proceeded from the Scotch quarter of the Committee.

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

consented to the postponement of the Vote.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

(19.) £3,825, Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice (England).

(20.) £16,037, County Courts.

(21.) £360, Police Courts, London and Sheerness.

(22.) £2,000, Police—Counties and Boroughs (Great Britain).

(23.) Motion made, and Question proposed, That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £1,573, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March 1882, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Courts of Law and Justice in Scotland, and other Legal Charges.

MR. O'DONNELL

noticed that provision was made "for payment of the ac- counts of Sir Theodore Martin, amounting to £2,449." He would like to know what those accounts were?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

said, this sum of money was spent in connection with the two disputed Peerage cases—the Annandale and the Dysart. It was necessary the claims to these Peerages should be carefully investigated, and this expenditure was incurred.

MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY

asked if the claimants did not pay their own expenses?

LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISH

said, the claimants were required to pay their own expenses; but it was matter of public policy that the titles to the Peerages should be carefully examined, and this involved expense to the State.

MR. LABOUCHERE

said, they ought to take the sense of the Committee upon the question. It was a matter of the greatest indifference to him who held these Peerages, and therefore he should oppose the Vote.

MR. RAMSAY

said, he had intended to make a few remarks upon this Vote; but at that late hour he should simply content himself by supporting the Government. He trusted they would go to a division at once.

MR. CALLAN

said, he should certainly support the hon. Member for Northampton (Mr. Labouchere) in protesting against the country defraying any portion of the expenses attendant upon these antiquated Scotch claims.

Question put.

The Committee divided:—Ayes 103; Noes 30: Majority 67.—(Div. List, No. 24.)

(21.) £470, Register House Department, Edinburgh.