NEW WRIT FOR THE COUNTY OF MONAGHAN.—RESOLUTION. (Hansard, 12 June 1883)

§ MR. CALLAN
Mr. Speaker, I think, before the Motion is agreed 'to, and this Writ is issued, we should enter into a discussion on the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill, in order that attention may be drawn to the manner in which the principles of the Bill, especially in respect of lawyers, have been thrown aside by the Government. These hon. and learned Gentlemen, who spent a large amount of money to get returned, are rewarded cent per cent for their expenses by appointments being given to them, as has been done in this and other instances. In the county of Tyrone, a Gentleman, who went into an expensive contest, was rewarded in 12 months with an Office worth £3,000 a-year; and we have here now a Gentleman who contested the County Monaghan, after three years given a situation, and pitch-forked into a county with which he has had no previous connection; who has not even an extensive practice as a criminal lawyer; and whose only possible qualification is that he spent money extensively in a contest on behalf of the Liberal Party.

§ MR. BIGGAR
Mr. Speaker, I would like to corroberate more or less—and very much more than less—what has been stated by my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Mr. Callan), with regard to the system pursued in reference to Government appointments in Ireland. Now, if the Government are really serious with regard to this subject of extending the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill to Ireland, with the view of keeping down the expenditure—

§ MR. SPEAKER
The hon. Member for Cavan (Mr. Biggar) must confine himself to the Question before the House, which is, whether the Writ shall be issued? He cannot discuss the Corrupt Practices Bill. That matter will come under the consideration of the House later on in the present Sitting.

§ MR. BIGGAR
Very well, Sir. I will confine myself to the issue of the Writ for Monaghan; and I wish to endorse what has been said as to the very expensive expenditure that was incurred by hon. Members sitting for this county; and it seems to me, Mr. Speaker, that the Government are doing with one hand what they are undoing with the other. They are occupying the time of the House in passing a Bill to keep down the expenses of elections; while, at the same time, they are giving large rewards to parties who spend money in the most extravagant manner in their interest. I think it would—

§ MR. SPEAKER
The hon. Member is not attending to my directions, and confining himself to the Question before the Chair, which is, whether the Writ shall or shall not go?

§ MR. BIGGAR
I will come to the point, Mr. Speaker; and in accordance with your suggestion, and in accordance with the suggestions of common sense and reason, I beg to move that the issue of the Writ be suspended until a decision has been come to by the House regarding the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill now before Parliament.

§ MR. SPEAKER
Will the hon. Member be so good as to bring up his Amendment?
Amendment brought up, and read.

§ MR. SPEAKER
Who seconds the Amendment?

§ MR. SEXTON
I have great pleasure in seconding the Amendment, for those reasons. I do so, in the first place, because it will allow of a decision upon the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill being arrived at; and, therefore, I think it is desirable that the issue of the Writ should be postponed until we know the intentions of the Government regarding future elections of this sort in Ireland; secondly, it will enable us to inquire into the expenses of this hon. and learned Gentleman at the last Election; and, thirdly, 379 in order that we may have time to inquire whether this hon. and learned Gentleman is the author of the famous placard at the Tyrone Election—Vote for Porter and Fair Rents, which raised the banner of political corruption in Ireland.
Amendment proposed, To leave out from the word "That" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words "the issue of the Writ for the County of Monaghan be suspended until the decision of Parliament has been had regarding the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill now before this House,"—(Mr. Biggar,) —instead thereof.
Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question," put, and agreed to.
Main Question put. Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown in Ireland to make out a New Writ for the electing of a Member to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Monaghan, in the room of John Given, esquire, who since his Election for the said County has accepted the office of Crown Solicitor for the Counties of Meath and Kildare.