PERSONAL EXPLANATION. (Hansard, 2 May 1892)

§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)
I desire, Mr. Speaker, to call your attention to a small matter affecting myself, partly in the nature of a personal explanation, having relation to Division List 91 in the proceedings of Thursday last. A question was put that the Clergy Discipline Bill be committed to the Standing Committee on Law, and Mr. Courtney, acting as Deputy Speaker in your unavoidable absence, directed that the Members who challenged a Division should stand up in their places. The record stands in the Votes thus:— The House proceeded to a Division, and Mr. Deputy Speaker stated he thought the Ayes had it, and on his decision being challenged, it appeared to him that the Division was frivolously claimed; and he directed the Noes to stand up in their places, and Fourteen Members having stood up, Mr. Deputy Speaker declared that the Ayes had it. To my great astonishment, when I looked at the Division List, I found my name at the head of the list of Members 1866 voting "No." Mr. Speaker, I was sitting in my place the whole time, and took no part in the Division, and I desire that my name may be struck out of the List. I should not have called attention to the mistake in this manner—it is a mistake for which I do not blame anyone—but for the fact that it may render me liable to the charge of obstructing a measure I have been asked to support by my constituents, and which, in their interest, I promised to support. May I also, Sir, venture to offer a humble suggestion that when Members are asked to stand up in their places it might be as well that the names should be read over before the List is passed in order that mistakes may not occur?

§ MR. SPEAKER
I will take care that the remarks of the hon. Member have attention. I understand that the hon. Member desires that his name should be struck out. The correction shall be made.

§ MR. CONYBEARE
Yes, Sir, I supported the Bill in two other Divisions.

§ MR. SEXTON
May I ask the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Treasury, who just now interfered to prevent the granting of a Return in which his Department is not concerned, whether and when he intends to fulfil the promise he gave in reference to a matter in which his Department is concerned—namely, to lay before the House Papers in explanation of the Treasury fiasco in reference to the Irish Teachers' Pension Fund?

SIR J. GORST
I recognise the courtesy of the hon. Member's reference to myself. The Papers will be presented as soon as the Committee have furnished their Report. As to the Return, I may explain to the hon. Member that I do not wish at all to stop it if it is desired by the Government of Ireland, but the hon. Gentleman should be aware that the preparation of this Return involves considerable expenditure which it is necessary the Treasury should sanction before it is incurred.

§ MR. SEXTON
It is, I believe, in accordance with the usual custom to assume that a Return will be granted 1867 when not opposed by the head of the Department concerned.

§ MR. CAUSTON (Southwark, W.)
In reference to the suggestion made by the hon. Member for Camborne just now, I hope it will receive favourable consideration, because this is not the first time a mistake of the kind has occurred.

§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)
Will the right hon. Gentleman, who takes such an unusual interest in matters of Irish administration, give us some explanation of, and say if anything has been done to remove, the deadlock between the Post Office and the Treasury, which prevents the citizens of Cork from having that improvement in their postal service they have every right to claim? A small sum of £3,000 is required for the purpose of giving us 1868 an accelerated service on the Great Southern and Western Railway. The Postmaster General admits the justice of the claim, but the Treasury blocks the way. Can the right hon. Gentleman say if anything is being done to remove this deadlock?

SIR J. GORST
The hon. Member will be glad to learn that there is no deadlock between the Post Office and the Treasury. Nothing has been done, and nothing is likely to be done. The Departments are in a perfect state of harmony.

§ DR. TANNER
I will refer to the subject in Committee of Supply.