HC Deb 10 August 1883 vol 283 cc69-70
SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL

appealed to the Prime Minister to say whether he could give any indication when time was likely to be found for the Local Government Board (Scotland) Bill, and especially whether any Irish Bills were to be given precedence over it; because he knew that the Representatives from Ireland had been bad boys, while the Scotch Members had been on their good behaviour.

MR. GLADSTONE

said, he was very sorry that comparisons of that kind, which tended to provoke feelings of retaliation, should be introduced into a Question of this sort with regard to the order of Public Business. He could not at that moment say anything about the Local Government Board (Scotland) Bill; but he hoped on Monday some arrangement would be made with reference to it. With regard to the Evening Sitting, he hoped they might be allowed to take it, and make all the progress possible with the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill, and the Parliamentary Registration (Ireland) Bill. Yesterday there was only one Motion down on the Paper—that of the hon. Member for Salford (Mr. Arnold), who kindly offered to withdraw it in favour of Government Business. Since then, however, a crop of five others had sprung up; and he would appeal to hon. Members in whose names those Motions stood to give way in deference to the general sense of the House and the necessities of the case. Should they not be able to finish the Parliamentary Registration (Ireland) Bill to-night they would be precluded from taking it to-morrow, other Business having been appointed. On Monday they were bound to apply themselves to the Business of Supply, and the first day at disposal would be Tuesday, when it would be made the first Order.

MR. HEALY

announced that he should not proceed with his Motion, which stood second on the Paper.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

appealed to the hon. Members for Eye (Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett), for Westminster (Lord Algernon Percy), and for Preston (Mr. Tomlinson), who had Motions on the Paper for the Evening Sitting, to withdraw them.

MR. ARTHUR ARNOLD, Mr. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT, Mr. TOMLINSON, Lord ALGERNON PERCY, and Mr. ARTHUR O'CONNOR agreed not to proceed with their Motions.