[BILL 211.] SECOND READING. (Hansard, 14 May 1886)

§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Londonderry, S.)
I have to move that this Bill be now read a second time. It is a Bill for the purpose of giving an appeal from the taxation of the expenses of candidates at Parliamentary elections by County Court Judges. Candidates at Parliamentary elections have found great difficulty in obtaining a taxation of their accounts. It is extremely desirable that taxation should be allowed, and that there should be a reference from the County Court to some tribunal superior to the County Court. I understand that it is considered that the Judge of Assize would be an undesirable authority for that purpose in England. I have consulted the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Bury (Sir Henry James), and I understand he would prefer a different Taxing Master. To that I have no objection. Since the discussion last Wednesday upon the Irish Bill I have thought it would be undesirable to move the Irish clause, pure and simple, without extending its provisions to England If hon. Gentlemen object to its extension to England I shall not press it. I simply introduce it so that there may be no jealousy between the two countries. I hope the House will allow the Bill to be read a second time. I shall be glad to postpone the Committee for a week.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. CHILDERS) (Edinburgh, S.)
It is well I should point out that this Bill is not even in print.

§ MR. T. M. HEALY
Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will allow me to explain——

MR. CHILDERS
I have no doubt that it has been unavoidable, and it is because, so far as Ireland is concerned, there is no opposition to the Bill that I raise no objection to the second reading now. Of course, it is absolutely necessary that between now and the next stage any Amendments to the Bill should be very carefully considered. I understand that several hon. Members have Amendments to propose, and I have no doubt that the Amendments will be at once put on the Paper to permit of their proper consideration. Under the circumstances, and protesting that this must not be made a precedent, the Government will not object to the second reading.

§ SIR ROBERT FOWLER (London)
I wish to call attention to the fact that the Bill has not been delivered. The right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary will agree with me when I say that it is very unusual for the second reading of a Bill to be moved when the Bill has not been delivered. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for the University of Dublin (Mr. Holmes) has no objection to the Bill, so far as it applies to Ireland, and as the hon. and learned Member (Mr. T. M. Healy) agrees to postpone the Committee for a week, I do not object to the Motion. I have no doubt that in Committee the Bill, as applied to England, will be very carefully considered.

MR. CHILDERS
I presume the hon. and learned Member will agree not to take the Committee stage until Monday week.

§ MR. T. M. HEALY
Perhaps the House will allow me to say that I handed in the draft of this Bill on Tuesday, and that I was promised it should be delivered yesterday morning. It was only delivered this morning.

§ MR. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)
I object to this Bill being read a second time. It is very necessary it should be printed before we are asked to read it a second time.

§ MR. T. M. HEALY
It is printed.

§ MR. SPEAKER
The objection taken by the hon. Member does not necessarily preclude the Bill being proceeded with. The matter is one for the determination of the House.

§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)
I feel that it is quite possible we may be creating a dangerous precedent which maybe applied to other Bills. This is an Irish Bill in form, but applies to the United Kingdom. Many Members have left the House in the expectation that the Bill would not come on to-night, seeing that it has not been circulated. I do not myself object to the measure on principle, if it is understood that it is to be so dealt with in Committee as to be made applicable to England; but there may be those who have objection to it under any circumstances.