HC Deb 05 April 1887 vol 313 cc612-5

(Mr. King, Sir Edward Birkbeck, Mr. Lacaita, Mr. White, Mr. Puleston, Lord Claud Hamilton, Admiral Field, Mr. Bond.)

COMMITTEE. [Progress 17th March.]

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

[Sir JOHN GORST (Chatham) in the Chair.]

Clause 1 (Short title).

MR. CRAIG (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)

Mr. Raikes. [Laughter.]

THE CHAIRMAN

Order, order!

MR. KING (Hull, Central)

I beg to move the omission of the word "pilots" in page 1, line 6.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

I rise to a point of Order. I wish to ask you, Mr. Chairman, whether the hon. Gentleman the Member for Newcastle (Mr. Craig) was not in possession of the Committee when you called upon the hon. Member for Hull (Mr. King).

THE CHAIRMAN (Sir JOHN GORST)

No; the hon. Member was not in possession of the Committee. I never called upon him.

Amendment proposed, in page 1, line 6, leave out "pilots."—(Mr. King.)

Question proposed, "That the word 'pilots' stands part of the Clause."

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

Mr. Chairman, I beg to move that you do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again. We have been kept hero for over an hour and a-half on a question of a most trumpery character by the obstinacy of right hon. Gentlemen opposite, in refusing to give way to the most reasonable request made to them, and now, at 2 o'clock in the morning, they ask that progress should be made with a Bill of this important description. I am not willing to be kept here in this most tedious manner by hon. Gentlemen opposite. Surely hon. Gentlemen will admit that we have some rights.

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

MR. KING (Hull, Central)

I must point out that I am not responsible for the lateness of the hour at which the Bill is brought on. I am very desirous that the Bill should pass, and am quite willing to sit some time yet; but if hon. Gentlemen opposite are resolved—[Cries of "Go on!"]

MR. PULESTON (Devonport)

I hope the hon. Gentleman (Mr. King) is not going to agree to the Motion. Hon. Gentlemen opposite are equally interested with some of us in the passing of this Bill; indeed, I have received the assurance of several hon. Gentlemen, including the hon. and learned Gentleman (Mr. T. M. Healy) who has just spoken, that no people are more anxious than the people of Ireland for the passing of this Bill. Hon. Gentlemen opposite have expressed themselves in many practical ways in favour of this measure. This is a Bill of only one clause; surely we may now make progress with it. I certainly hope my hon. Friend will not assent to the Motion to report Progress.

DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)

Sir John Gorst, I really must protest against the system of intimidation which is being practised by hon. Gentlemen opposite. My breath was nearly taken away when I heard the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Puleston) tell the hon. Member for Central Hull (Mr. King) not to dare to attempt to assent to the Motion to report Progress. We are brought here, night after night, to discuss a Coercion Bill for Ireland; but if this sort of business goes on, surely the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury (Mr. W. H. Smith) will bring in some Rule of Procedure to prevent coercive proceedings in this House.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Sir HENRY HOLLAND) (Hampstead)

I have no wish to reply to the somewhat heated language which the hon. Gentleman (Dr. Tanner) has used; but merely to point out that though the Bill contains but one clause, it is a Bill of great importance. The Amendment raises a very important question about foreign pilots, and when the hon. Gentleman (Mr. King) the Mover of the Bill agrees to report Progress, I really think it is only fitting of the Committee to assent to the Motion.

MR. BIGGAR (Cavan, W.)

I beg to say one word in reply to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Devonport (Mr. Puleston). The hon. Gentleman appealed to us to allow the Bill to proceed. The truth of the matter is that if the First Lord of the Treasury (Mr. W. H. Smith) persists in pushing Bills through the House in this manner, the result will be that no Bills will—

THE CHAIRMAN

The hon. Gentleman is not in Order in making such remarks.

MR. BIGGAR

May it please you, Sir John Gorst, the reason why I rise at 2 o'clock to support the Motion to report Progress is that the time since 1 o'clock was entirely wasted by a wrangle—

THE CHAIRMAN

The hon. Gentleman is not in Order in referring to a debate which took place on a previous Bill.

MR. BIGGAR

I wish to point out that we have been put back one hour.

THE CHAIRMAN

I hope the hon. Member will observe the ruling of the Chair.

MR. BIGGAR

Sir John Gorst, it will afford me the greatest pleasure in the world to see this Bill pass through Committee. The truth is, I signed a "round robin" in favour of the principle contained in the Bill. I very strongly approve of the principle of the Bill, and am only opposed to proceeding with the measure at this time of the night. If the Committee stage were taken at a reasonable hour to-morrow evening, or on Thursday evening, or on some evening next week, it would give me great pleasure to see it disposed of.

Question put, and agreed to.

Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Tuesday next.