HC Deb 16 April 1885 vol 296 cc1841-2
MR. SEXTON

I wish, Sir, to ask your ruling on a point of Order in reference to an entry which appears upon the Votes and Proceedings of the House for Tuesday last. Shall I be in Order in bringing forward the matter now?

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member can state the point of Order now.

MR. SEXTON

I find this entry—No. 19—in the Votes of Tuesday— Railway Bills (Group 4)—Mr. Wyndham reported from the Committee on Group 4 of Railway Bills, That Dr. Cameron and Mr. Kenny, two of the Members of the said Committee, were not present within one hour after the time appointed for the meeting of the Committee this day. Ordered, That Dr. Cameron and Mr. Kenny do attend the Committee on Group 4 of Railway Bills To-morrow, at Twelve of the clock. The Chairman of the Committee further reported that, in the absence of a quorum, the Committee had adjourned until the next day at 12 o'clock. My hon. Friend the Member for Ennis (Mr. Kenny), referred to in this Order, has informed me that he only received a notification that he would be required to attend during a certain week, but that he had received no intimation of the day and hour when he would be required. Under these circumstances, I wish to know whether this entry, which may seem to imply censure upon my hon. Friend, should be allowed to remain, seeing that it was through the neglect of the official whose duty it was to send such a notification, and not through any fault of his own, that my hon. Friend did not attend at the hour appointed for the meeting of the Committee?

MR. SPEAKER

The proper course will be to communicate with the Chairman of Committees, who, no doubt, will put the matter right. It is clear, as it appears to me, that the hon. Member for Ennis (Mr. Kenny) should have been informed of the meeting of the Committee.

MR. SEXTON

Then I presume that, in the absence of any such notification, no censure upon my hon. Friend will be implied?

MR. SPEAKER

That is so.