MR. MACARTNEYI regret to have to rise, Sir, to bring a matter of Privilege before the House. After the Vice President of the Council had answered a Question asked by the hon. Member for Guildford (Mr. Onslow), the hon. Member for Queen's County (Mr. Arthur O'Connor), sitting below me, said aloud, 1278 "What a miserable hound that Lord George Hamilton is!" I instantly said, "That is very improper language to use, and especially in the hearing of other Members." Upon this the hon. Member for Roscommon (Mr. O'Kelly) said, "He is an eavesdropper." The remark was made in so loud a tone, that I think it must have been heard by Members sitting behind and around. I said, "That remark is equally improper"—
§ MR. CALLANI rise to Order. I wish to ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether this is really a question of Privilege.
§ MR. SPEAKERI understand that the hon. Member was pointing out the state of disorder which lately arose in the House.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member, no doubt, should properly have taken notice of those remarks at the time. I believe the hon. Gentleman did rise, but I did not call upon him. If that is so, I think he is quite entitled to call the attention of the House to the matter.
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONI rise simply to make an appeal to my hon. Friend the Member for Tyrone (Mr. Macartney), and to ask him whether it is conducive to the dignity of the House that such a matter as this should be discussed? If one hon. Member in conversation chooses to apply opprobrious language to another, so much the worse for him.
MR. MACARTNEYI regret that I should have annoyed my noble Friend the Member for Middlesex, but I thought the language was so unjustifiable that it ought to be taken notice of. Not only was that language used, but when I complained the hon. Member for Roscommon told me that I was an eavesdropper. I wish to ask you, Sir, whether we who sit here in a mixed Party—[A laugh]—very much mixed, I think—should be subjected to have these kind of remarks made out aloud in our hearing?
§ MR. SPEAKERI think the House may desire to know from the hon. Members, whose language has been called in question, whether that language has been properly attributed to them.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORIn a private conversation addressed to an hon. Friend sitting two places from me, I made use of certain observations. 1279 These were not addressed to the hon. Member for Tyrone (Mr. Macartney), and when he wished to discuss with me those observations I declined; and then he, apparently much irritated, threatened to appeal to you, Sir. I told him he was at liberty to do so.
§ MR. O'KELLYWhen the hon. Member for Tyrone interfered in a conversation which was not directed to him, and with which he had practically nothing at all to do, threatening to call the attention of the House to the matter, I did say to him that he was acting the part of an eavesdropper, because I considered that the conversation, not being addressed to him, he had no reason to intervene.
§ MR. SPEAKERI think the House will expect the hon. Members to express regret, because, although these observations were not made openly, still they were made in this House, where hon. Members are accustomed to speak of one another with respect. I am persuaded that the hon. Members, when they come to reflect upon the matter, will think it right to withdraw their observations.
§ MR. O'KELLYSo far as I am concerned, I will express my regret to the House for having made use of the observations.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORI shall not have the least hesitation in withdrawing any expression I have made use of, and which may be considered to be improper. But I may be allowed to say that the account given of the observations by the hon. Member was not altogether correct. However, whatever the expressions were which hon. Members sitting around me reasonably think they have a right to complain of, I willingly withdraw them.