HC Deb 09 July 1883 vol 281 cc917-8

Order for Committee read.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."—(Mr. O'Kelly.)

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

said, that this Bill, as re-committed, had not been laid before the House, and the original Bill was brought in in exactly the same way. He objected to the Bill being taken at that hour of the morning, and under the conditions he had mentioned. He therefore moved that the debate be now adjourned.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Debate be now adjourned."—(Colonel King-Harman.)

MR. BLAKE

said, that the Bill of the hon. Gentleman the Member for Roscommon (Mr. O'Kelly) had been a long time before the House. Its provisions were perfectly understood; and in the opinion of everyone, save and except the hon. and gallant Gentleman (Colonel King-Harman), the Bill was a most useful one. As his hon. Friend would have so few opportunities, considering the very heavy state of the Notice Paper, of bringing the measure forward during the entire Session, he (Mr. Blake) trusted he would persevere to get the Bill into Committee to-night.

MR. SHEIL

said, he hoped the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for the County of Dublin (Colonel King-Harman) would not press his Motion. Certainly, the House was entitled to hear some reason why the Motion should be made. At present he had only heard that the hour was somewhat advanced, and that the Bill was not circulated. He did not think the hon. and gallant Gentleman himself would deny that the Bill was a useful one, for its object was simply the distribution of small sums of money, under very necessary circumstances. The reason given for an adjournment was so small that he ventured to hope the hon. and gallant Gentleman would not persist in his opposition.

MR. COURTNEY

said, he did not think that the opposition was quite so unreasonable as had been suggested. The Bill had been re-committed in order to receive numerous Amendments, and to be re-printed. It had not yet been re-printed, so that the form in which it was to be considered in Committee was not known. He would, however, suggest this compromise—that the Speaker should be allowed to leave the Chair, and that, immediately afterwards, Progress should be reported, on the understanding that the Committee stage should not be taken until the Bill had been re-printed.

MR. O'KELLY

said, he was quite prepared to accept the compromise proposed by the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Courtney).

COLONEL KING-HARMAN

said, he had Amendments on the Paper, which had been taken off, and he had no means of knowing at present whether those Amendments ought to be again put on the Paper. Upon the understanding, however, that the Committee stage would not be taken until the Bill had been reprinted, he would ask leave to withdraw his Motion.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

Original Question put, and agreed to.

Bill considered in Committee.

Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Monday next.

House adjourned at a quarter after Three o'clock.