§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That the Order of the Day for resuming the Adjourned Debate on the Motion for the Address have precedence this day of the Notices of Motion, and To-morrow of the other Orders of the Day."—(Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.)
§ MR. PARNELLsuggested that it would be more convenient to extend the Motion beyond to-morrow, or otherwise it might be necessary to repeat it on Friday or even next Tuesday if the debate on the Address was not then concluded. He should also like to know how Her Majesty's Government proposed to treat the Bill which the Attorney General for Ireland had given Notice he would introduce that evening. Was it intended to put it down for second reading to-morrow or the day after tomorrow? He thought it very likely that the second reading stage of the Bill would be opposed, and unless provision 382 were made for the second reading the question would arise on Thursday.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Lord RANDOLPH CHURCHILL) Paddington, S.)I cannot contemplate at present any such contingency as the prolongation of the debate on the Address till next Tuesday. For all the present purposes of the House the Motion now made is adequate, as it is usual. With regard to the Bill referred to by the hon. Member, of course, if it is to meet with anything like protracted and stubborn opposition the Government will have to consider seriously whether it will be in their power to press it on the House at the present time; but if the opposition which the hon. Member seems to think might occur would be only for the purpose of raising a discussion on the principle or scope of the Bill, then, undoubtedly, the Government would endeavour to bring it on at an hour before the time after which opposed Business cannot be taken. Of course, the Bill will not be put down for second reading till it has been printed and circulated.
§ MR. SEXTONMay I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Attorney General for Ireland whether it is his intention to move for leave to introduce his Bill for facilitating the proceedings of the Belfast Commission, and, if so, whether he will make a statement on his Motion of the provisions of the Bill?
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELANDYes, Sir, it is my intention to make the Motion, and if it suits the convenience of the House I shall state the provisions of the Bill.
§ MR. SEXTONWill the Motion for the second reading of the Bill be made after the debate on the Address?
§ LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILLYes, certainly.
§ Motion agreed to.