§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. SAMUEL MORLEYI move that this Bill be now read a second time.
§ MR. WARTONI object.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe Question is, "That this Bill be now read a second time."
§ MR. CALLANsaid, he thought a quarter to I in the morning was not a proper time at which to bring on this discussion; therefore, he begged to move the adjournment of the debate.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Debate be now adjourned."—(Mr. Callan.)
§ MR. ONSLOWsaid, that, as he had given Notice of opposition to the Bill, he was in Order in speaking to the Question of Adjournment. The measure was a very important one as regarded the labourers throughout the country; but the Bill had only been printed and circulated during the Easter Recess. He, in common with many hon. Members who sat around him, had had no idea that it would be taken to-day. It might be said that it had been printed some time before the second reading was proposed; but he appealed to hon. Members opposite whether, when a Bill was only printed and circulated during the Recess, when Members were not at home to receive their Papers, there was not a very valid reason, indeed, why they should ask the House to defer the second reading? He could assure the House there was a very strong feeling on both sides of the House—at any rate, on the Opposition side—with 1103 regard to the Bill. He could quite imagine that some hon. Members were very anxious indeed that the measure should pass; but he was right, he thought, in saying that when the second reading was moved the hon. Member who had charge of the Bill was not in his place in the House. ["No, no!"] Some other hon. Member moved it—not the hon. Member for Bristol. ["No, no!"] He believed it was the hon. Member for Monmouthshire (Mr. Carbutt). On all these grounds, he put it to the House whether it would not be in accordance with the ordinary practice of the House—Members not having had time to see the Bill—to defer the second reading to another day? He had much pleasure in supporting the Motion for the adjournment of the debate.
§ MR. WARTONsaid, he rose to a point of Order. He wished to know? whether or not the course which had been adopted in regard to this Bill was regular? On the day before the Easter Recess the Bill was brought in by the Clerk at the Table. He (Mr. Warton), at the time, went up to the Table and asked the Clerk whether the Bill was one from the Lords, and, receiving a reply in the affirmative, asked whether there was anyone to move its introduction. At that moment he held in his hand a Notice of opposition to it. He was told that the Bill could not be road a first time unless someone moved that it be so read. Well, he had watched the thing until the last moment, remaining in the House for the purpose, and no one had moved the first reading. His second objection to the Bill being proceeded with was that he stated his desire to block it; and as this was the first time the Order for Second Beading appeared on the Paper under the Half-past Twelve o'clock Rule the block was a valid one.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe Rule the hon. and learned Member refers to does not apply in the present case. The Bill has come down from the House of Lords, and stands for second reading, unopposed, on the Paper.
§ MR. SAMUEL MORLEYsaid, that, in reply to the hon. Member for Guildford (Mr. Onslow), he wished to point out that the Bill had been two Sessions before the House. He ventured to say that no measure had been introduced which met with more general acceptance on both sides of the House.
§ MR. SAMUEL MORLEYsaid, it was the old Bill. They were only seeking to secure for the working men of England rights and protection which had existed for 60 years in Ireland, and in all iron and coal mines. Working men were entitled to this protection.
§ MR. R. N. FOWLERsaid, he would remind the hon. Member for Guildford that this measure was moved in the House of Lords by a noble Lord a friend of his (Mr. R. N. Fowler's), and—he had no doubt—of the hon. Member. Moreover, it was supported by the late Lord Chancellor Cairns.
§ Question put, and negatived.
§ Original Question again proposed.
§ MR. WARTONclaimed the indulgence of the House to ask what was the Rule—apart from the present Bill—as to the introduction of measures? Was it necessary for a Bill to be brought in from the House of Lords? He had seen the Clerk at the Table bringing in—physically bringing in—this Bill, and he had asked him—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, Order! The hon. and learned Member is not speaking to the Question before the House. The Question before the House is "That this Bill be now read a second time."
§ MR. WARTONI can say no more now. I will call the attention of the House to the matter some other time.
§ Original Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time.
§ MR. SAMUEL MORLEYI move, Sir, that you do now leave the Chair. ["No, no!"]
§ Bill committed for To-morrow.
§ MR. ONSLOWI beg to give Notice that on going into Committee on this Bill I shall move—" That this House do, on this day six months, consider this Bill."