STANDING ORDERS. (Hansard, 30 January 1891)

§ (3.10.) SIR R. FOWLER (London)
, in the absence of Sir J. MOWBRAY (Oxford University), moved— That the Select Committee on Standing Orders do consist of Thirteen Members:—Mr. Barclay, Sir Edward Birkbeck, Mr. Sydney Buxton, Mr. Cubitt, Mr. Arthur Elliot, Sir Thomas Esmonde, Mr. Halsey, Mr. William Lowther, Sir John Mowbray, Colonel Nolan, Sir Lyon Playfair, Mr. Stansfeld, and Mr. Whitbread.

§ (3.12.) COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)
I have no objection to the appointment on this Committee of the hon. Baronet the Member for South Dublin 1386 (Sir T. Esmonde). I am sure that he will be a very valuable member, but I wish to call attention to the circumstances under which the hon. Baronet has been nominated. There were two Committees down for nomination yesterday—the Committee of Selection and the Standing Orders Committee, and they are usually bracketed together. They are always presided over by the same Chairman, the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the University of Oxford (Sir J. Mowbray), and they generally run together in double harness. The two Committees, although divided, are practically one. Yesterday there were three Irish Members on the two Committees—the hon. Member for Londonderry (Mr. J. M'Carthy) on the Committee of Selection, and the hon. Member for North Kildare (Mr. Carew), together with myself, on the Standing Orders Committee. I think I may safely say that, although both Committees are considered to be important Committees, the Committee of Selection is the more important of the two, having very great and important duties to discharge. It is an unfortunate fact—already well-known through the ordinary channels of information—that there is at present a temporary schism among the Irish Members, and as one result it has been arranged to strike off from the Committee of Selection the name of the hon. Member for North Kildare, and to substitute that of the hon. Baronet the Member for South Dublin. The effect is that one of the two Irish Parties, not satisfied with having one-half of the representation of the Irish Members upon the two Committees, will obtain two-thirds of it. That is a proceeding which I strongly deprecate, and it manifests a certain amount of greediness. The matter is one however, which must be settled by the English Members, because the number of Irish Members in attendance at this moment is very small. I have no doubt that the hon. Baronet will make a very efficient member of the Committee; but as the hon. Member for North Kildare is not in his place, not having recovered from his recent severe attack of illness, it would only be a graceful act for the hon. Baronet to offer to retire when my hon. Friend is in a condition to appear here again.

§ (3.15.) MR. J. O'CONNOR (Tipperary, S.)
I desire to say a few words on this matter. I entirely agree with my hon. and gallant Friend that the hon. Baronet the Member for South Dublin would make a very efficient member of the Committee; but I regret that the addition of the name of the hon. Baronet should be effected at the cost of expunging that of the hon. Member for North Kildare, because I think that it is likely to lead to a misunderstanding, or, at all events, to a misconstruction of the motives which have led to it. My hon. and gallant Friend has alluded to the schism which prevails in our ranks. It is one which I hope will cease to exist after a short time; but I desire to point out that up to this moment we have kept out of this House any mention of that schism, or any act that would emphasise the misunderstanding which at present unfortunately exists. That, unfortunately, can no longer be said, if there is to be taken off the roll of the Committee the name of a Member who has been most attentive to his duties, who is one of the Whips of the Irish Party, and who is most popular among Members generally. Except that he has taken a particular side in this unfortunate controversy there is no reason whatever why the name of the hon. Member for North Kildare should be expunged. I do not wish to go to a Division on the matter; but I feel it my duty to support the protest which has been made against the unnecessary and invidious conduct of certain hon. Members of the House.

§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)
Perhaps I may be allowed to suggest that it would be a graceful act on the part of the hon. and gallant Gentleman to retire in favour of the hon. Member for North Kildare. We all know the great services of the hon. Member for North Kildare, and the hon. and gallant Gentleman may now sacrifice himself on the altar of his country. The hon. and gallant Gentleman may confess his own unworthiness for this great position, and open the way for the nomination of the hon. Member 1388 for North Kildare, so that the House and the Committee may have the advantage of his invaluable services.