§ COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, in view of his statement that all Railway and Harbour Bills for Ireland connected with the late Royal Commission must be postponed until the House has decided on the Drainage Bills, Whether he would name an early day on which the sense of the House might be taken on these Drainage Bills?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)The hon. and gallant Gentleman has failed to notice that these Bills were withdrawn last week. Therefore, they are at an end so far as the present Session is concerned.
§ COLONEL NOLANAre we to understand, then, that all important works in Ireland are to be indefinitely postponed?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI do not know that that is the question. The Government were most anxious to bring forward these Bills, but they met with 520 opposition; and it was not possible, under the circumstances of the Session, to press them in the course of the present Session, and therefore they have been withdrawn.
§ COLONEL NOLANHas the right hon. Gentleman ever given a single day for the second reading of any one of these Bills?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHIt would be exceedingly inconvenient that we should get into a wrangle. These Bills have been discussed at considerable length.
§ COLONEL NOLANNo, no; only on the first reading.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, he had repeatedly stated that an adequate discussion of these Bills must be in Committee, and that when they came back from the Committee an opportunity would be afforded for their discussion in the House. Hon. Gentlemen did not agree with that view, and therefore there was no option but to withdraw the Bills.
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)Are we to understand that on no occasion are we to have the opportunity for an adequate discussion of the principle of a Bill on the second reading?
§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)As a matter of fact, have these Bills ever been brought forward before 12 o'clock at night?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHYes, they were.
§ DR. TANNEROn what date?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder! order!