COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 5 March 1891)

§ *(12.20.) THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RITCHIE,) Tower Hamlets, St. George's
This Bill has now been amended fro formâ in Committee by the insertion of the Government Amendments.

§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co. Mid)
I object.

§ *MR. RITCHIE
But the hon. Member cannot object to my making a statement? I desire to say that the Government do not think they would be justified in keeping this Bill on the Paper and allowing the matter to remain in a state of uncertainty. It is undesirable that those who are engaged in the duties of registration should have any doubt as to those duties and the time in which they must perform them. We had hoped that this Bill would have been accepted generally' by the House when we introduced it at the desire of County Councils, but I have been in communication with hon. Gentlemen opposite who have Amendments on the Paper, and from who I am told I fear there is very little probability of their withdrawing their opposition and Amendments. I propose to put the Bill down for Monday, in the hope that hon. Gentlemen who have notices of Amendments to entirely alter the character of the Bill, will meanwhile reconsider the position. But I think it my duty to put an end to uncertainty, and if on Monday hon. Members cannot see their way to withdraw the Amendments to which I refer, and if they are not prepared to accept the Bill practically in the form in which it is now reprinted, it will be my duty to move the discharge of the order.

§ MR. CAUSTON (Southwark, W.)
Does the right hon. Gentleman, in putting the Bill down for Monday, intend that it shall be taken at an hour when it can be discussed?

§ *MR. RITCHIE
We propose to take it after the principal business of the Government for the day is concluded.

§ (12.21.) MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)
I think the right hon. Gentleman has said quite enough to justify opposition to the Bill by hon. Members on this side. The right hon. Gentleman brings down a Bill to effect important changes in the constitution of the country, and simply throws it at our heads saying "If you do not choose to accept the whole Bill as we present it we shall withdraw it, and you shall not have whatever benefit it may contain." The Bill has passed through Committee simply pro formâ without a word of discussion, and if the right hon. Gentleman thinks we are going to let an important Bill like this pass without consideration and, if need be, amendment—if that is his attitude, I can assure him that although I have had representations made to me in favour of the Bill by the Clerk to the County Council of my county yet I shall offer the most strenuous opposition to the Bill, because I protest against the infringement of the right this House has to discuss and amend any Bill that comes before it. If the right hon. Gentleman does not choose to listen to criticisms upon the measure he had better withdraw it at once.

§ *MR. RITCHIE
I wish it to be understood that what I said has reference to Amendments on the Paper which are of a fundamental character; embracing, as they do, alterations in the franchise, they are not simply Amendments dealing with the machinery of registration with which we ask the House to deal. To Amendments of that character of course my remarks do not apply. The Amendments I refer to are those which strike at the very root of the Bill which we have introduced at the earnest request of County Councils. It is a pure machinery Bill and we are not prepared to ask the House to embark on the discussion of franchise questions.

§ (12.22.) MR. STOREY (Sunderland)
In my judgment some of the Amendments which appear upon the Paper are by no moans germane to the Bill as promoted, but I want to represent to the right hon. Gentleman that at any rate in my part of the country there are very serious 342 objections to the changes he proposes being made at the present time, practical objections. Such changes, if made at all, and I admit they ought to be made, are surely changes which ought to be made in quiet times, and not under the shadow of a General Election. With his practical knowledge the right hon. Gentleman knows that the gentlemen charged with the duty of registration in country places are not so clever as they might be, and if a General Election should take place immediately after the passing of this Bill into law, these changes in forms will perplex and bother them. At the present time there is great difficulty in getting Overseers and Assistant Overseers to provide full and accurate lists each year, and if you make the changes under pressure of time it will be impossible in many places at once to get out sufficient and accurate lists. While I entirely agree with the changes proposed, I think the right hon. Gentleman would exercise a wise discretion in not pushing them forward now.

§ *(12.24.) MR. RITCHIE
I want the Committee to understand that the Government must not be supposed to be acting with the slightest disrespect towards Members of the House if they do not proceed with the Bill. I on a previous occasion explained our deeply-rooted objections to changing the whole character of the Bill in the manner I have indicated. The position we take is this: If this change is to be made it must be made in sufficient time in order to allow anyone who has anything to do with the working of the Registration Law to make himself acquainted with the change. The Government do not think they would be justified in pushing forward the Bill if it could only come into operation at a time when possibly those charged with the administration would not be fully acquainted with the change. If the Bill does not pass we shall do all we can without it to assist those who are charged with the duty of making up the register, in the performance of their duties within the time and in the best manner possible.

§ (12.25.) MR. CAUSTON
I am in favour of a Registration Acceleration Bill, but with freedom to propose Amendments. But if we only enter upon the Bill after 12 o'clock there is no opportunity of dealing with Amendments, and 343 therefore, I would suggest that the Bill should be taken at a time to allow fair discussion of reasonable Amendments.