§ Petition and Order of Leave [1st February, 1886] read; Bill read the first and second time; and (the Bill having been reported and considered in the last Session of Parliament),
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be ordered to be read the third time."—(Mr. Dodds.)
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)I notice that this Motion, in reference to an important Irish Bill, is made by a Member of the House entirely unconnected with Ireland; and I notice, also, what has been observed upon previous stages of the Bill, that the Motion is made in the absence of both Members for Belfast, immediately concerned in the promotion of the measure. In a former Session, it will be remembered, the House inserted a clause assimilating the municipal franchise in Belfast to the Parliamentary franchise; and, speaking here as the Representative of 60,000 of the inhabitants of Belfast, I wish to say that I cannot assent to any Motion which will advance the Bill until an undertaking is given by those who promoted it that no attempt will he made in the House of Lords to remove that Franchise Clause. If that clause should be removed, I shall consider it my duty to oppose the Bill when it is returned to the House of Commons. Since the Bill was last before the House, important reasons have been made public why the Corporation of Belfast, upon its present restricted electorate, should not be entrusted with the manipulation of £500,000 of the public money; and, in the absence of Members responsible for the introduction of the Bill, I ask that further progress of it may be postponed until this day week.
§ MR. SPEAKERI have to point out to the hon. Member that the present Motion is in pursuance of a Resolution of the House, in order that the Bill may be replaced in the same position as it occupied in the last Session. The Motion now is only that the Bill be ordered to be read a third time; and the Motion for third reading will come up on 386 Friday, when the hon. Member will have an opportunity of making any observations upon that stage. Two days' interval must elapse between the present Order and the Motion for third reading.
§ MR. SEXTONI am obliged, Sir, to be absent this week upon official business connected with the Shrievalty of Dublin; and I, therefore, hope that a day may be named when I shall be able to be present, say Friday week.
§ MR. SPEAKERIt is impossible at this stage to fix any other day. The Bill will be set down for the third reading on Friday next, and the House will then deal with it.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill ordered to be read the third time on Friday.