§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crow n in Ireland to make out a New Writ for the electing of a Member to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Meath (Northern Division) in the room of Michael Davitt, esquire, whose election for the said County has been declared void."—(Sir Thomas Esmonde.)
§ COLONEL SAUNDERSON (Armagh, N.)Sir, my hon. Friend the Member for Antrim on a former occasion gave notice that it was our intention to oppose the issue of this Writ. Our object in doing so was to bring under the notice of the House the circumstances attending that election, especially with regard to priestly intimidation. That object will be attained by the discussion that will arise upon the Amendment to be moved by the hon. Member for West Belfast (Mr. Arnold-Forster); and as we do not wish to put the House to the trouble of two debates on the same subject, it is not our intention to oppose the issue of the Writ. Perhaps I might appeal to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to carry out our wishes by moving that the evidence be not only laid on the Table of the House, but circulated amongst Members of the House.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT,) DerbyOn that subject I should think the proper course would be for the hon. Member to move. The evidence in these cases is very voluminous, but, of course, in cases where the House desires it, it will be laid on the Table. It has been so laid, and is accessible to Members in the Library. In any case where it is desired that the evidence should be printed and circulated, there should be a special Motion for the purpose.
MR. J. LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)Do I understand that the Judgment and the evidence is to be laid on the Table? Is the Judgment to be printed as distinct from the evidence?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe first Motion was for laying on the Table the Judgment and the evidence, but I understand that the Home Secretary has given notice that the Judgments should be printed and circulated. There is no Motion to print the evidence.
§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)Is it necessary to make any such Motion? Is it not sufficient to go to the Librarian, as I have often done, and say, "I want this printed and circulated"?
§ MR. SPEAKERin such a case as this we would require the order of the House to print the evidence.
§ Motion agreed to.