§ MR. LEA (Londonderry, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, in view of his statement in January of this year—
I am well aware that all classes in Ireland with but few exceptions share with me the desire that the Intoxicating Liquors (Ireland) Bill should become law,would he say what facilities or assistance he is now prepared to give for the passing of this Bill?
§ MR. JORDANBefore the right hon. Gentleman replies to the question may I ask him if he did not say last year that the present state of this question is "disgraceful in the highest degree;" and will he allow the present Session to close without making some effort to remedy the anomalous state of affairs in relation to this matter?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, EI have not present to my mind the quotation, if it be a quotation, to which the hon. Member refers, though I believe I have commented more than once upon the unsatisfactory position in which this matter stands. In regard to the question of the hon. Member for 1441 Londonderry, he has very correctly quoted words I have used in regard to this Bill, but I would point out to him that although I believe it to be true generally speaking that all classes in Ireland share in the desire that the Bill should become law, there is an important section, I will not say of Irish opinion, but of Irish representatives, who not only take a different view, but are prepared to back that view with all those powers of debate with which they are largely endowed. Under the circumstances I am afraid it would not be possible for the Government to find time for the discussion of the Bill, though if we could do so I should be extremely glad.
§ SIR W. LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)If as the right hon. Gentleman says the Bill cannot go forward on account of the opposition of a section of Irish Members, why will the same course not be pursued towards the Irish Local Government Bill, to which all the Irish Members are opposed?
§ [No answer was given.]