SECOND READING. (Hansard, 19 April 1888)

§ MR. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside)
said, he must appeal to the First Lord of the Treasury (Mr. W. H. Smith) on behalf of the Intermediate Education (Wales) Bill, and another measure which was standing in the name of the hon. Baronet the Member for Exeter (Sir Stafford Northcote). The question of intermediate education in Wales had stood over since 1882. A Departmental Committee was appointed in 1883, and they arrived unanimously at a conclusion on the subject. There was not a Welsh Member, in whatever part of the House he might sit, who would not agree that these two Bills should be sent to a Select Committee, in the hope that some conclusion might be arrived at. The right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury had said, the other day, that the Government hoped they would find time to bring in a Bill on the subject. He (Mr. Mundella) was afraid that, in the present state of Business in the House, there was very little chance of their being able to do so this year. He thought that a Select Committee would be able to come to some agreement. There was a disposition on the Opposition side of the House to do so. Whatever differences of opinion there might be with reference to intermediate education among the Welsh Members, they were quite prepared to thresh them out, and to come to some compromise, so as to get the question settled. That being so, he hoped the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury would allow the Bill to be read a second time, in order that it might be referred to a Committee Upstairs.

§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)
said, it was because he fully appreciated the great importance of the subject that he could not consent to the second reading of the Bill after 12 o'clock at night without any discussion. He fully admitted the value of discussion by Select Committees, and a 1826 threshing out of details, such as the right hon. Gentleman opposite suggested, would be very useful.

§ MR. SPEAKER
If the right hon. Gentleman objects to the further passage of the Bill, that disposes of it for this evening.

§ MR. W. H. SMITH
I am afraid, Sir, I must do so; and I hope that, under the circumstances, the House will realize that I do not take this course merely from a spirit of opposition.