HC Deb 05 September 1887 vol 320 cc1326-8

Order for Committee read.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."—(Mr. Attorney General.)

DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)

Mr. Speaker, we have now arrived at a late hour of the evening, and I would certainly appeal to the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury (Mr. W. H. Smith) not to proceed with this Motion now. I had Notice of opposition to this Bill, and several of my hon. Friends, who could not wait up till this hour, have now gone away. I have few words to say; but I sincerely hope the First Lord of the Treasury will not press this Bill forward now. There is no opposition beyond opposition of a technical nature to the measure, and I trust therefore that it can be deferred until to-morrow. I have waited here for the purpose of putting the matter to the right hon. Gentleman in a fair way. I trust I have behaved in a fair spirit, and that he will reciprocate it.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight)

I hope we shall be allowed to take this Bill. It is only to be taken formally.

MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)

I must second my hon. Friend the Member for Mid Cork (Dr. Tanner) in the matter of putting the second reading aside for the present.

MR. SPEAKER

This is not the second reading, but going into Committee.

MR. CONYBEARE

I thought it was the other Bill.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

DR. TANNER

I rise to move, Sir, that you report Progress.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—(Dr. Tanner.)

SIR RICHARD WEBSTER

May I remind the hon. Member that this Bill is absolutely unopposed. Nobody has suggested any Amendment. I do not wish to take anything which the hon. Member desires to have discussed; but we are anxious to get some of these Bills off the Order Book.

DR. TANNER

May I also suggest to the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury that I am not speaking on behalf of myself. I am speaking for hon. Members not now here, who wished to discuss this Bill. I think it is too late an hour to proceed with this Bill. I have not done anything of the character of persistent opposition, and I therefore hope the hon. and learned Gentleman, in a spirit of common sense, will allow Progress to be reported.

Question put, and agreed to.

Committee report Progress; to sit again To-morrow.