§ Order for Committee read.
233§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."—(Sir John Kennaway.)
§ MR. BIGGARsaid, that there had been no discussion on this Bill; and the hon. Baronet notwithstanding rose at that hour of the morning, without giving the slightest explanation of its merits or provisions, to move that the Speaker leave the Chair. He was surprised that the Government should support the Bill, because its object was to cnable members of Public Health Boards to perpetrate jobs amongst themselves. Under the circumstances, he felt it his duty to move the adjournment of the debate.
§ MR. HEALYsaid, he thought the House was greatly indebted to the hon. Member for Cavan (Mr. Biggar) for making this Motion, entirely in the interests of the British taxpayer, seeing that the Bill did not apply to Ireland. His hon. Friend had always been a consistent supporter of economical principles, and the course he had just taken showed that he was absolutely disinterested in this matter. He begged to second the Motion of his hon. Friend.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Debate be now adjourned."—(Mr. Big gar.')
§ SIR JOHN KENNAWAYsaid, in his opinion the Bill had been sufficiently discussed last Wednesday. It was a Bill to remove a great hardship upon a deserving body of men—clerks and officers of Local Boards—who were at present subject to penalties on the information of informers, which penalties could be recovered in two places. The Bill had received the assent of both Front Benches; it was a most important measure, and it would be a great loss if it were not passed into law during the present Session.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR)said, as the hon. Member for Cavan had made a Motion which precluded any Member from speaking on the Bill, ho hoped that he would, at all events, withdraw it, and hear what his hon. Friend had to say on the subject, and then, if he thought it necessary, he could renew his Motion.
§ Question put.
§ The House divided: —Ayes 12; Noes 80: Majority 68.—(Div. List, No. 217.)
234§ Original Question again proposed.
§ SIR JOHN KENNAWAYsaid, if his Motion for the Speaker leaving the Chair were agreed to, he did not propose to take the clauses to-night; they could stand over for future discussion. He pointed out that members and officers of Public Boards sometimes contracted with their Boards for the sale of land, and under the Municipal Corporations Act they were under no disability in that respect. He contended, therefore, that the same facility ought to be given in this case. The Bill proposed to relieve members of Public Health Boards from the disabilities under which they suffered in case any contract was made by the Boards of which they were members with any public Company. The officers in question were, for instance, now subject to great inconvenience if they were members of a Gas Company in the district.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—(Sir John Kennaway.)
§ MR. COURTNEYsaid, he had been waiting in the House for two hours solely on account of this Bill, in the hope that with certain modifications it might get through Committee. The course proposed appeared to him rather inconvenient.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEsaid, he must take upon himself the blame for what the hon. Member for Liskeard complained of. He had suggested to the hon. Baronet that he might take this course.
§ MR. HEALYthought it would be a great mistake if Progress was not reported. The Bill was introduced for the purpose of allowing members of Boards to sell their property to one another; and for that reason, if for no other, he contended that they should report Progress.
SIR CHARLES W.DILKEsaid, he had suggested to the hon. Baronet that he should put down the Bill for Monday.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Monday next.