HC Deb 15 April 1886 vol 304 cc1750-1

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—(Mr. Ince.)

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. BRYCE) (Aberdeen, S.)

I hope the Committee will consent to go on with this Bill now. It has been introduced in the same form in which it was introduced into the House of Lords last year. We believe that very few questions will arise, and that it will not take long in going through Committee; and, therefore, I trust the hon. and learned Member will allow it to go through.

MR. INCE (Islington, E.)

There are a great many Members, and especially on the other side of the House, who are anxious to go into this matter, and who have not yet had an opportunity of discussing and considering it. I removed my block to meet the convenience of my hon. Friend the Under Secretary; but I would not have done so if I had known there was to be an attempt to force the Bill on in this way at such an hour as this.

SIR ROBERT FOWLER (London)

I would call the attention of the Committee to the fact that the Chairman has been in the Chair, with very little intermission, ever since 5 o'clock, and for that reason alone I think we ought to report Progress.

MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)

I should like to warn hon. Members before they go further that this is quite a different Bill from that which passed this House last year.

MR. BRYCE

Well, Sir, I will not press the Committee now if there is any considerable feeling in favour of reporting Progress; but I hope that on a future evening, considering the urgent necessity for this measure, the Committee will consent to go on, even at so late a hour as this.

SIR R. ASSHETON CROSS (Lancashire, S.W., Newton)

I will not oppose the Motion for reporting Progress, Sir, considering the length of time you have been in the Chair; but this is a Bill which ought to be passed, and I hope that the Committee will consent to deal with it, even at a late hour, as soon as possible.

Motion agreed to.

Committee report Progress; to sit again To-morrow.