§ MR. J. MORLEY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)I wish to ask as to the order of business. Will the Report of the Local Taxation Bill be the first order of the day to-morrow; next, is the House to sit on Saturday; and lastly, as this is the 31st July, and there are ill-omened rumours of our meeting in November, will the right hon. Gentleman state what Bills will be proceeded with?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI understand from my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer that it will be for the convenience of the House that the Report of the Local Taxation Bill shall be taken to-morrow if the Com- 1387 mittee is concluded to-day, and if that is the view of the House the Government will be very glad to take the Rpeort tomorrow, substantially as the first order. They then propose, if a sufficient interval can be found, to take the Post Office Vote, which it is desirable should be obtained. The Police Bill will be taken as soon as the Report of the Local Taxation Bill shall be completed, whether on Saturday or Monday. I have received intimations from different parts of the House that it will be for the general convenience that the House shall meet on Saturday, the sitting being subject to Wednesday rules—that is, that the business shall practically be suspended at half-past 5 o'clock. The Bills which the Government intend to proceed with are the Local Taxation Bill, the Police Bill, the Census (Ireland) Bill, London County Council (Money) Bill, Public Works Loans Bill, and the Savings Banks Bill, if it is not opposed.
§ MR. STOREY (Sunderland)It will be opposed to the end.
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHThen, with reference to that intimation, I can only deeply deplore there should be opposition of the kind declared to a Bill which, I believe, is regarded by the vast majority of Members, even on the hon. Member's own side, as embodying a great safeguard to investors in Savings Banks. On the hon. Member must rest the responsibility if the Bill is not passed. The Partnership Bill, a purely Legal Bill, I believe has been accepted by the House without question. The Public Health Acts Amendment Bill the Government desire to proceed with, and, of course, the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill must be passed. As to the Employers' Liability for Injuries to Workmen Bill and the Reformatory Schools Bill, the order will be discharged. The Electoral Disabilities (Naval, Military, and Police) Bill I hope to pass, on the understanding that Ireland will be exempted from the scope of its operation. With this statement I hope I may appeal to hon. Members to give the Government their assistance in making material progress with the business of the remainder of the week.
§ * MR. BRADLAUGHThe right hon. Gentleman has not mentioned what is to be done with the Indian Councils Bill. We ought to know the 1388 intentions of the Government with regard to that measure.
§ SIR G. CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)Could not the Bill be taken on Saturday, instead of the Police Bill, which has never been discussed in Committee, and to bring on which would be very inconvenient to Members, as it affects nearly every constituency?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI am afraid the Indian Councils Bill must be postponed until after Supply, and if it is possible to take it during the stages of the Appropriation Bill the Government will be glad to do so.
§ * MR. BRADLAUGHIf the Bill is left to the end of the Session it will be extremely unfair to hon. Members interested in it, and will, moreover, be an absolute breach of the promise given by the First Lord of the Treasury in the Debate on the Address.
§ MR. A. J. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside)Is it intended to discharge the order for the Education of Blind and Deaf Mute Children (Scotland) Bill?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHIf the right hon. Gentleman will assist us to pass the Bill without opposition, we shall be glad to do so.
§ MR. A. ELLIOT (Roxburgh)When will the Scotch Police Bill be taken.
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI cannot say at present.
§ MR. H. H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton)With reference to the promised day for discussion of the Treasury Minute relating to Treasury pensions, may I suggest whether it would not be advisable to postpone any commutation till next Session, so as to give a fair opportunity for discussion. There is no immediate necessity for action this Session.
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI think the suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman a very reasonable one, and, therefore, I have no hesitation in postponing the consideration of the Minute till next Session.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)May I ask when the long-promised opportunity for the discussion of the Report of the Vote on the Irish Land Commission will be given me?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHThe Government are anxious the hon. Member shall have his opportunity. It is, of course, subject to certain business being carried through.
§ MR. DILLONThere is no such condition.
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHThat is the condition on which alone it is in the power of the Government to give the hon. Member his opportunity; and if we are able to conclude the Local Taxation Bill before 11 o'clock this evening, and obtain a vote in Supply, the Government, will then take the Motion of the hon. Member.
§ MR. DILLONThat amounts to a declaration that I am not to get my opportunity. Now, I have to inform the right hon. Gentleman that I gave a large quid pro quo in the agreement made with him. I paved the Government a great deal of time, and the Chief Secretary promised that an opportunity should be given me, in consideration of my foregoing my right to talk out the Vote, to raise a discussion on the Report of Supply.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt does not appear to me that the explanation of the hon. Gentleman is inconsistent with what the First Lord of the Treasury has just stated. I stated to the hon. Gentleman that he should have the opportunity of discussing the Report of the Land Commission Vote at a reasonable period —that is to say, not later than 11 o'clock. But no particular day was stated or suggested. The hon. Gentleman knows that we must take this Report, and we are pledged not to take it after 11 o'clock.
§ MR. STOREYThere is an Amendment on the Paper to enlarge the amounts which depositors are permitted to pay into a Savings Bank daring the year. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that Amendment is an exact copy of a clause of the Bill proposed by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Mid Lothian in 1880, at the time when he reduced the interest charged by the Savings Banks? The second part of the Bill had to be abandoned under the stress of the Compensation for Disturbance Bill, though we were promised that it should be re-introduced in 1881. Up to the present time, although the Savings Banks interest has been reduced, that promise to the Savings Banks has never been carried out. In view of that promise, given by the Government of the day in 1880, I would ask the 1390 right hon. Gentleman whether he will accept the Amendment?
§ MR. GOSCHENThe hon. Member asks me whether it will be possible to deal with a matter that was so contentious that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Mid Lothian had to drop it from his Bill. Clearly, if a matter of such controversy is to be introduced, either on one side or the other, it will be impossible to pass the Bill.
§ MR. LEVESON-GOWERWill the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the House say when the Foreign Office Vote will be taken, as there are several important topics, which hon. Members on both sides are interested in, which will have to be dealt with.
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI have already stated that we hope to take the Vote as soon as we have disposed of the Police Bill.
§ * MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)May I ask when the Intoxicating Liquors (Ireland) Bill will be taken?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHThat measure is in the hands of private Members.
§ * MR. CHILDERSI desire to ask in what position it is proposed to put the Scotch Superannuation Bill. I understand that the Government have undertaken to take it after the Report stage of the English Bill, but from what has just fallen from the right hon. Gentleman it looks as though he contemplated making some modifications in the arrangement of the business. I ask the question, as I took a great deal of interest in the Bill in Committee, and I think we should know precisely how the Bill stands.
§ SIR G. CAMPBELLIs it intended to put the English Police Bill through on a Saturday?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHMost certainly. With reference to the Scotch Superannuation Bill, I will consult the convenience of Scotch Members, and shall be glad if we can deal with it in the manner the hon. Gentleman suggests. I trust that I may appeal to the House to make progress to-night, seeing that the contentious matter of the Local Taxation Bill has been largely disposed of. Then we can take the Post Office Vote, which is so much required.
§ * MR. CHILDERSThe suggestion that the Committee stage of the Scotch Police Bill should follow the Report 1391 stage of the English Bill was well received by Scotch Members on both sides of the House. If the right hon. Gentleman will inquire I think he will find that that is the feeling of the majority of Scotch Members.
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHAs I take it that the right hon. Gentleman speaks with the concurrence of the great majority of the Scotch Members on his side of the House I will endeavour to make the arrangement he refers to.
§ MR. E. ROBERTSONAs there will be great opposition to the Scotch Superannuation Bill, would it not be well for the Government to postpone it altogether for the consideration of the Scotch people?
§ * SIR J. LUBBOCKWill the London County Council (Money) Bill be taken to-night? I see it is on the Paper.
§ MR. JACKSONI should think it would be better to take it on Monday, but hon. Gentlemen opposite will know about it better than I.
§ * SIR J. LUBBOCKThe Bill will only require slight amendment, and I think it would be to the general convenience of London Members if it could be taken to-night.
§ MR. JACKSONI will confer with the right hon. Baronet on the matter.
§ MR. ESSLEMONT (Aberdeen, E.)Considering the interest taken in the Bill relating to Blind and Deaf Mute Children in Scotland could it not be arranged to take that measure by consent some night after 12 o'clock?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. P. B. ROBERTSON,) ButeI know that the hon. Member and the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Sheffield take some interest in this subject. I will confer with them, and shall be glad if some arrangement can be come to by which the Bill can be taken.
§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)The right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury is mistaken in saying that the Youthful Offenders' Bill is not opposed. There are Amendments on the Paper, and the Bill will most certainly be opposed.
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI am afraid I have gone as far as I can. The hon. Member will see that I cannot say more than I have.