HC Deb 16 February 1888 vol 322 cc564-5
THE FIEST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand Westminster)

I think it will be for the convenience of the House if I say that I propose to lay on the Table o the House to-night the new Rules o Procedure. Nominally, they will b put down for Monday next, but only that they may appear on the Paper not that there is any intention of proceeding with them.

MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch Hoxton)

Is it not settled that on Mon- day next we are to proceed with the debate upon Trafalgar Square?

MR. W. H. SMITH

The Address must be disposed of before proceeding with any other matter; therefore, if I am not assured that the debate on the Address will conclude to-morrow night, I cannot propose to take the Trafalgar Square debate on Monday.

MR. JAMES STUART

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will proceed with the London question before the other stages of the Address?

MR. W. H. SMITH

The Address must be voted by the House before any other Business can be taken.

MR. JAMES STUART

Will it be the next Business?

MR. W. H. SMITH

I cannot undertake to say that, since it is possible that the exigencies of Supply may necessitate our putting down Supply.

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE (Bradford, Central)

On the Report stage of the Address I shall have an important Amendment to move—

MR. W. H. SMITH

I have said that the Address must be voted before any other Business is taken.

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

I propose to move on the Report of the Address— That this House humbly expresses to Her Majesty its regret that no reference is made in Your Majesty's Most Gracious Speech to any measures for Ireland which shall deal with the arrears of excessive and unjust rents which have accumulated in many cases during the last two years of agricultural depression from the inability of tenants to pay them, and which shall prevent the wholesale eviction, of tenants which is threatened in the district of Loughrea and Woodford. That this House also desires to express its regret to Your Majesty that Mr. Wilfrid Blunt should have been prohibited holding a meeting in the said district for the purpose of expressing sympathy with the tenants, and bidding them have patience, pending application to Parliament for relief. I may mention that the latter part of the proposed—but I think that will be over by next week—Amendment can hardly be discussed pending the trial which is now taking place in Dublin.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)

I beg to give Notice that I will move, as an Amendment to the proposed Amendment, to leave out the latter part of it.