HC Deb 09 June 1887 vol 315 cc1440-2

NOTICE OE INSTRUCTION.

MR. W. H. SMITH

Mr. Speaker, I wish, Sir, to give Notice that to-morrow, at half-past 4 o'clock, I stall move an Instruction to the Committee on the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill, the effect of which will be to name a period at which the Committee will report the Bill to the House.

MR. JOHN MORLEY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)

Mr. Speaker, by the indulgence of the House, I should like to make an appeal to the right hon. Gentleman. Surely this is an extremely short Notice for a proposal of so extremely strong—which is the least offensive word I can find—a description. The House has been sitting since last Monday, and the right hon. Gentleman and his Colleagues must, I presume, have made up their minds as to the course they intended to pursue; and it seems to me that it would have been more consistent with the great importance of the proposal which the right hon. Gentleman makes, and more respectful to the House, if he had given us a longer time to consider his proposal. I do hope the right hon. Gentleman will see his way to postpone the Resolution for one more Sitting—until Monday.

MR. W. H. SMITH

I am sure, Sir, that the right hon. Gentleman himself must have expected the Government to make a proposal of this character; for, in answer to a Question addressed to me by the hon. and learned Member for Dundee (Mr. E. Robertson) on Tuesday last, I did, in effect, give Notice that it would be the duty of the Government to make a proposal of this kind to the House. It has not been possible for the Government to arrive at any definite decision on the question until to-day; and they will put the form and terms of their Notice on the Paper in the course of the evening.

MR. JOHN MORLEY

May I ask at what time the right hon. Gentleman proposes to make this Motion?

MR. W. H. SMITH

At half-past 4 o'clock, the usual time. The right hon. Gentleman is aware of the fact that all Motions in regard to the Business of the House are taken before the Orders of the Day are entered upon.

MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will now state what is the period he refers to?

MR. W. H. SMITH

No, Sir; I cannot.

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

As to-morrow is not a Government day, it would certainly be more convenient if the right hon. Gentleman could give the terms of his Motion, because surely we are entitled to at least 24 hours' notice, so that hon. Members might be able to give Notice of Amendments to the Motion.

MR. W. H. SMITH

The terms of the Motion will be handed in to the Clerk at the Table before the close of the Committee this evening in ample time for hon. Gentlemen to be fully informed of its purport.

MR. T. M. HEALY

How?

MR. W. H. SMITH

From the Clerk at the Table.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Are we to understand, Mr. Speaker, that it will be possible for Members to obtain copies of the right hon. Gentleman's Notice to-night?

MR. SPEAKER

It is not customary to give copies of Motions.

MR. T. M. HEALY

That being so, I would again ask the right hon. Gentleman what the Government intend to do?

MR. W. H. SMITH

I will give an answer at the close of the Committee this evening.

MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

wanted to know whether the Notice given by the right hon. Gentleman could be considered regular in view of the great importance of a Motion of this character, and the natural desire of hon. Members on his side of the House to prepare Amendments which would be impossible on so short a Notice?

MR. SPEAKER

There is nothing irregular in the course proposed.