§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he is aware that, on the 11th of February last, the right hon. Baronet the Member for West Bristol (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach), then Chief Secretary for Ireland, informed a deputation from Belfast that, if one of the Members for that town introduced a Bill for the reform of the local licensing system, under which two Courts exercise conflicting jurisdictions, the Government would give every assistance and facility towards the passing of such a measure; whether he is aware that the present Chief Secretary for Ireland declared the willingness of the Government to facilitate a Bill for the establishment of Local Courts of Bankruptcy in Ireland, if introduced by a private Member; and, whether, under these circumstances, the Government will aid the passing of the Licences (Belfast) Bill and the Bankruptcy Courts (Ireland) Bill, which stand for second reading?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster), in reply, said, he was afraid that, under the circumstances of the present Session, it would not be practicable for the Government at this stage of the Session, and considering the present state of Business, to give any special facilities towards the passing of the measure referred to by the hon. Member. He hoped, however, that the hon. Member might find some opportunity of pressing them forward himself.
§ MR. SEXTONsaid, he would take the earliest opportunity of calling the attention of the House to the way the Government were dealing with their 1167 engagements in reference to these two Bills.