HC Deb 31 August 1887 vol 320 cc716-7
COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)

asked, Whether the Government had come to a decision as to the extension of the Allotments Bill to Ireland?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)

said, that the matter had been very carefully considered, and after deliberating with the Irish Officers the Government had come to the conclusion that they could not extend the Bill to Ireland for reasons which he would state to-morrow. One reason was that so late a period of the Session had been reached that no time could be found for discussing the large number of Amendments that must be introduced if the Bill were to be extended to Ireland.

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

said, that the discussions that would arise upon the new clause excluding Ireland from the Bill would probably occupy as much time as would be occupied by the Amendments consequent upon its inclusion Time, in fact, might be saved by allowing the measure to extend to Ireland.

MR. MASON

asked whether the decision of the Government applied to Scotland also?

MR. RITCHIE

Yes, Sir; it does. With regard to what had fallen from the hon. and learned Member for North Longford (Mr. T. M. Healy), he might say that the period of the Session was only one of the reasons which he would have to state to-morrow; and he hoped that when the other reasons were stated the hon. and learned Member's fear with reference to the time necessary to discuss the new clauses would not be realized.

House adjourned at five minutes before Six o'clock.