HC Deb 13 June 1888 vol 327 cc75-6

Order for Committee read.

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

MR. M'LAREN (Cheshire, Crewe)

said, he desired to ask Mr. Speaker, whether it would be competent to him to move in Committee an Amendment authorizing marriage with a deceased husband's brother? If not, he would move an Instruction to the Committee.

MR. SPEAKER

The object which the hon. Gentleman has in view can only be attained by an Instruction to the Committee.

MR. M'LAREN

said, the principle involved in the Instruction was very important, and it was one which the House could not possibly consider in the four minutes which remained for discussion; therefore, in order that the question might come forward at a more convenient period, he begged to move the adjournment of the debate.

MR. SPEAKER

said, he would point out to the hon. Gentleman that the Motion had not yet been moved.

MR. M'LAREN

said, he would, in that case, merely move the Instruction of which he had given Notice; and, as he did not wish to delay or talk out the Bill, he would not say anything further.

Motion made, and Question proposed, That it be an Instruction to the Committee that they have power to extend the scope of the Bill so as to include marriages between a woman and her deceased husband's brother."—(Mr. Walter M'Laren.)

MR. HENEAGE (Great Grimsby)

said, as the hon. Member had not used any arguments in support of his Motion, he did not think it necessary to offer any in opposition to it, and would, therefore, claim to move, "That the Question be now put,"

MR. SPEAKER

As no arguments have been adduced on either side, I cannot consent to put the Motion of the right hon. Gentleman.

MR. J. G. TALBOT (Oxford, University)

said, he might perhaps be allowed to say a few words upon this Instruction, which he thought the hon. Member had not moved in language adequate to the subject. For his part, he could take no share in it. But he wished to point out that while the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Heneage) would, by his Bill, pull out one stone of the great and sacred fabric of the Marriage Laws of the country, other hon. Gentlemen were desirous of pulling out many others.

It being half-past Five of the clock, the Debate stood adjourned.

Debate to be resumed upon Wednesday next.