§ Considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ Clause 1.
§ MR. LEAI beg to move to report Progress. My hon. Friend the Member for South Tyrone and myself have Instructions down on the Paper, but did not expect the Bill to be proceeded with to-night.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—(Mr. Lea.)
§ MR. SEXTONSurely it is unreasonable to stop the progress of this Bill on such grounds. Why should the whole House be punished for the neglect of the hon. Member?
§ *MR. T. W. RUSSELLI support the Motion to report Progress, and for this reason: I did not take a Division on the Second Reading; but this is a Bill which cannot be allowed to pass without some discussion and a Division. I will not now debate its merits; but I maintain that the Government ought to find an opportunity for an important measure like this to be discussed at an hour when the opinion of the House can be taken upon it. I mean to divide against Clause 1.
§ MR. KELLY (Camberwell, N.)I think the Bill will prove to be highly contentious, and I shall spare no effort to defeat it. It contemplates taking money from the Disestablished Protestant Church of Ireland and giving it to the Roman Catholics.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt does nothing of the kind.
§ MR. KELLYWhen the omission of words "Irish Temporalities Fund," in Clause 2, is moved, the matter will be very clear.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURMy hon. Friend, then, is posing as the champion of the Irish Protestant Church.
§ MR. KELLYI do not profess to-champion the Irish Church.
It being Midnight, the Motion to report Progress lapsed, and the Chairman left the Chair to make his report to the House.
§ (12.0.) MR. SEXTONIn fixing the time for resuming Committee will the right hon. Gentleman put it down for some day when it can be taken at such an hour that there will be some chance of getting it through? Will he give it the first place on the Orders of the Day?
§ *MR. GOSCHENI will endeavour to arrange that the Bill shall be taken at a time to allow of full discussion. I know that great interest is taken in it, and, though I cannot fix a time just now, the hon. Member may rely that the opportunity shall be given.
Committee report Progress; to sit again to-morrow.