§ MR. DILLWYN (Swansea)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the late period of the Session, and of the great opposition to the Tithe Rent-Charge Recovery Bill which exists in many sections of the House, it is still his intention to press that measure this Session, notwithstanding that his doing so must necessitate its being passed either without due consideration of its provisions, or else by the considerable prolongation of the Session?
§ MR. S. LEIGHTONBefore the right hon. Gentleman answers the question, I should like to ask him whether his attention has been called to the following statement of Mr. Justice Field, made in his charge to the Grand Jury at Chester last week:—
It was a disgrace that such things as the late tithe riots should take place in this country; and those who put in motion the mass of the people and who urged them on, directly or indirectly, had a terrible account to answer for. There was no doubt that the public mind had been agitated and roused to an extent hardly credible if it were not known as a fact.
§ MR. G. O. MORGAN (Denbighshire)I should like to ask whether the Bill of the Government would prevent the tithe riots?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI have not seen the report of the charge, and it would ill become me to express an opinion' on the learned Judge's utterances in the position which he occupies. But I wish to say that we do hope that this measure, small as far as its dimensions are concerned, will go very far indeed to remove the opportunity for these lawless displays which have occurred to the great pain of many hon. Gentlemen on both sides of the House. It is hoped that the Government will be able to pass the measure during the course of the Session. The Bill itself is confined within small limits, but it will tend very much indeed to the due regard of order.
§ * MR. H. GARDNER (Essex, Saffron Walden)May I ask whether, having 72 regard to the great number of hon. Members for Wales and for English agricultural constituencies who are interested in this Bill, and in consideration of the undoubtedly protracted discussion which the Bill must lead to, the Government can see their way to allowing the discusssion, when it is once opened, to be taken de die in diem?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI will certainly endeavour to do that.
§ MR. G. O. MORGANWill the Bill be put down as the first Order of the Day?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHThe right hon. Gentleman must have sufficient experience of Parliamentary matters to know that it is impossible to answer that question definitely.
§ MR. H. GARDNERWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the desirability of an autumn Session?
§ [No answer was returned]