§ Bill considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ Clause 1.
MR. T. M. HEALYsaid, that as he had already indicated, he had no objection to the Bill, bat he observed that the Tory arty—in the person of the Leader of the Opposition or the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bristol—were disposed to block every Bill that was proposed from the Benches below the Gangway, no matter what its merits might be, and that being the case he and his friends had no alternative but to block the Bills of Tory Members. Unless some honourable understanding were arrived at with Tory Members that they would not block Bills for mere blocking's sake, he should oppose the present Bill. As there was no indication that the Tory Members were willing to be parties to such an understanding, he should move to report Progress.
Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—(Mr. T. M. Healy.)
§ SIR F. POWELL (Wigan)said, he had never blocked any of the hon. and learned Member's Bills. He had been particularly forbearing in that respect. He hoped that the hon. Member would select his victims.
§ MR. STOREY (Sunderland)appealed to the hon. Member opposite (Mr. T. M. Healy) to allow the Bill to pass through Committee. Though a small measure it was an important one; and though the hon. and learned Member had good ground for complaint, he begged that this little ewe lamb might be allowed to pass without obstruction.
MR. T. M. HEALYhoped the Tory Members would be better advised in the future, but in the meantime he would withdraw his opposition.
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Bill reported, without Amendment; to be read the third time To-morrow.