§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Second Reading of the Bill be deferred till Monday next."
MR. WEBSTERsaid, he must appeal to the Government to move that this Order be discharged. He had no intention, at that hour of the morning (2.35), of detaining the House by discussing the merits of the Bill; but he gathered, from an answer given by the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Tuesday, that it was hardly meant to proceed with the Bill that Session. It was now the end of July. The Bill was of a contentious character; it would be opposed at every stage; and, therefore, it was impossible to pass it in the few remaining days of the Session. On Tuesday the right hon. Gentleman opposite (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach) said 631 that looking1 to the list of Bills on the Paper, and the opposition of himself (Mr. Webster) and other hon. Members from Scotland to the Bill, he was afraid they could not proceed with it. After such a statement it was scarcely a right proceeding to put the Bill down for next week, of course to the great inconvenience of Scotch Members and of the house generally. He strongly appealed to the Government to consent to the discharge of the Order and the withdrawal of the Bill.
§ MR. HENDERSONsupported the appeal of his hon. Friend (Mr. Webster). Many Scotch Members, relying upon the assurance of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Tuesday, had left town.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, he would admit the correctness of the quotation the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Webster) had made; but as this was a Bill of importance he thought the matter might remain until Monday.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Second Reading deferred till Monday next.