§ MR. GUY DAWNAYsaid, that as he had no desire to in any way impede Government Business, and as he wished to prevent the waste of time which would 1360 arise from the discussion of the Motion which stood first on the Paper in the name of the hon. Member for Northampton (Mr. Labouchere), he would not proceed with his Motion referring to Zululand; but, at the same time, he would express the hope that the Prime Minister would be able to give facilities for discussing the question in Committee of Supply on the Vote for the Zulu Resident.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHsaid, he would join in the request of his hon. Friend to the Prime Minister. The matter was one of considerable importance, and an opportunity should be given for the discussion of the question, He therefore hoped the Government would take the Vote for the Zulu Resident in time for a proper discussion.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREsaid, that under the circumstances, in order to facilitate the Corrupt Practices Bill, he begged to give Notice also that he would withdraw his Motion for that night.
MR. GLADSTONEI certainly think, Sir, the demand for a discussion on the affairs of Zululand is a reasonable one; but hon. Gentlemen know the decision that we have announced, and I believe the main desire of the House is to dispose of the Corrupt Practices Bill and the Agricultural Tenants' Compensation Bill in Committee. When we see our way at all, we will at once endeavour to make the best arrangements we can for the despatch of Business, and announce them to the House. Unquestionably it would be right that we should, to the best of our ability, make arrangements for a discussion on the affairs of Zululand, on the Vote for the salary of the Resident. With regard to the postponement by the hon. Members for Northampton and North Yorkshire, whose Motions are on the Paper for tonight, it is quite plain that either of them must have occupied the available hours; but those two Gentleman have, for the advantage of the general Business, consented to waive their positions. I hope I may appeal to the hon. and gallant Member for Devonport (Captain Price) and the hon. Member for Eye (Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett), who had a subordinate or posterior position, if I may so call it, not to prevent the House, by raising discussions on the subsequent Motions in their names, with respect to Jamaica and Stellaland, from doing 1361 what is evidently the universal desire—namely, to dedicate the whole of to-day, if necessary, to closing the proceedings on the Corrupt Practices Bill.
§ CAPTAIN PRICEwished to say that his position was altogether a different one from that of the hon. Member for North Yorkshire (Mr. Guy Dawnay), as the affairs of Jamaica were in an awkward position, and he would have no other opportunity of saying anything on the subject during the present Session. At all events, he hoped the House would allow him to occupy a short time—say up to the time when the House became full, about 10 o'clock.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTbegged to point out to the right hon. Gentleman that, by the withdrawal of the two other Motions, his (Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett's) position was no longer a posterior one, but an anterior one. The question he had put upon the Paper was of very great importance. It referred to the insults to British subjects, which had been so often repeated under the present Administration, that he did not feel justified in withdrawing it altogether. He would, however, promise the Prime Minister that he would not speak more than 15 minutes; and, as the Under Secretary for the Colonies had often told the House he knew nothing about the subject, the discussion would probably not take long.
MR. GLADSTONEI am bound to say, Sir, that, under those circumstances, it is quite impossible to hold the other two hon. Members, who have given way, to the pledges they have given. That would be a most ungenerous act on my part. I do not think that the hon. Members opposite should take advantage of the sacrifice which other hon. Members have made, in order to bring forward Motions which, in my opinion, are not of the least urgency, and which would not have had the slightest chance of being reached if it had not been for the sacrifices to which I have alluded. As for numerous insults to British subjects, I am amazed at the forbearance of the hon. Member for Eye, who undertakes to expose the whole of them in a speech of 15 minutes. As to Jamaica, I may inform the hon. Member that as a Commission has been appointed to inquire into the state of things in that Colony, Her Majesty's Government could 1362 not be parties to discussing the subject until the Commission has made its Report.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Prime Minister whether it was not a fact that Mr. Honey was foully murdered five months ago on the borders of the Transvaal by Boers? [Cries of "Order!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is now raising debatable matter.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTsaid, he was asking for information.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREsaid, that he only agreed to withdraw his Motion on the understanding that all the posterior Gentlemen would also withdraw; and he hoped the Leader of the Opposition would exercise his influence to induce his followers to withdraw.
§ CAPTAIN PRICEsaid, he was quite willing to make the same sacrifice as his hon. Friend (Mr. Guy Dawnay). He would withdraw if the Prime Minister would give him another opportunity of bringing forward the subject.
§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTsaid, he would strongly appeal to the hon. Members to withdraw their Motions.
§ MR. ARTHUR ARNOLDasked the Prime Minister whether, if the hon. Members would not give way, he would not feel it necessary to have a Sitting on Saturday? [Loud cries of "No, no!"]
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEsaid, he would join in the appeal to his hon. Friends to withdraw, and not to put themselves in the position of fighting against the general wish of the House, which was that every effort might be made to finish the Corrupt Practices Bill that night.
§ CAPTAIN PRICEsaid, that, after the appeal from the Leader of the Opposition, he would withdraw his Motion.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTsaid, in deference to the wish of the Leader of the Opposition, though with great reluctance, he would also withdraw his Motion.
§ MR. J. LOWTHERasked the Prime Minister to afford him some more convenient opportunity than upon the Irish Tramways Bill to bring forward his Motion as to a scheme for assisted emigration from Ireland to Canada.
MR. GLADSTONEreplied, that he did not think he was in a position to 1363 enter upon this question now, but would communicate with the right hon Gentleman. He might add, assuming that the Corrupt Practices Bill was disposed of that night, the Tenants' Compensation Bill would be the First Order of the Day on Tuesday.
§ MR. WARTONwished to call attention to the fact that certain new Rules made by the Judges, now on the Table, contained very important alterations in the law of pleading practice. These Rules would come into force on the 24th October, unless the House annulled them. He wished to ask the Prime Minister whether these very important Rules were to be allowed to become law without the opportunity being given to the House to pass an opinion on them?
MR. GLADSTONEsaid, he was afraid he could not answer the Question without communication with the Attorney General. No Notice was given of the Question. He quite agreed that it was a Question that ought to be answered.