MOTION FOR A SELECT COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 10 July 1884)

§ MR. SEXTON
moved— That the Select Committee on Agricultural Labourers (Ireland) consist of Twenty-two Members. He explained that if this Motion were agreed to it was his intention to move "that Mr. Trevelyan be added to the Committee." It was of great importance that the right hon. Gentleman should be added to the Committee, because it was well that the Chief Secretary should have his mind accurately informed upon the subject. He trusted the right hon. Gentleman would allow his name to be added. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would say whether he expected or intended that the Committee should make material progress during the present Session.

§ MR. TREVELYAN
respectfully asked the hon. Gentleman not to press the Motion. He assured the hon. Member that he should await the Report of the Committee with the very greatest interest. He did not introduce the Labourers Bill; but, as the hon. Member was aware, he took an extreme interest in it. The framework of the Bill, no doubt, required amendment; and, therefore, there was no fear of his not examining most carefully the results produced by the Committee. The Irish Office would be represented by his hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor General for Ireland (Mr. Walker), than whom none was more competent; and the 794 Treasury would be represented by an hon. Gentleman who had taken a great interest in the question—the hon. Member for Leeds (Mr. Herbert Gladstone). He (Mr. Trevelyan) would be glad to serve on the Committee if he could; but he assured the hon. Gentleman that during many weeks of the Session he had absolutely no spare time whatever in the course of the day except the time that he was waiting for Irish Bills to come on on Wednesdays. He was quite unable to spare the time which would be necessary for a Select Committee; but the hon. Gentleman might rest satisfied that in case the Government brought in an amending Bill no ill effects would result from the fact that he (Mr. Trevelyan) had not served on the Committee. As to the labours of the Committee, the Government would be very glad if progress could be made by the Committee during the remainder of the Session. His impression was that the Committee would probably begin by examining the President of the Local Government Board, and perhaps the Legal Advisers, and perhaps the Inspectors; and it was not impossible that they might find, from the evidence of these gentlemen, that the elucidation of the subjects they desired elucidation upon would be promoted by a postponement until the arrangements under the Provisional Orders were carried out. He thought it very probable that the Committee would find that an adjournment at the end of the Session would be a very useful adjournment. At any rate, he hoped the Committee would set to work at once.

§ MR. SEXTON
What day will they meet?

§ MR. TREVELYAN
said, the Members of the Committee would settle that amongst themselves. His hon. Friends who would be official Members desired that the Committee should meet with as little delay as possible.

§ COLONEL KING-HARMAN
reminded the Chief Secretary that the Assizes were about beginning, and several of the hon. Gentlemen on this Committee would have to attend the Assizes.

§ MR. HEALY
said, it was unusual, when the House was going to meet for an Autumn Session, to have a Select Committee appointed in this way. He thought it unlikely that the Committee could finish its labours in the next fort- 795 night; and he thought that was a point worth the consideration of the Government.

§ MR. TREVELYAN
admitted that this was an important matter; but the Committee would proceed as far as they could. The question whether the Committee should be re-appointed during the Autumn Session would have to be considered.

§ COLONEL KING-HARMAN
said, the right hon. Gentleman and his Friends had postponed the Bill until the Assizes were beginning, so that it would be impossible for Irish Members to attend.