HC Deb 01 January 1894 vol 20 cc552-3
SIR D. H. MACFARLANE

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if his attention has been called to the fact that, after 28 days in Committee upon an unopposed Bill, there are still upwards of 600 Amendments upon the Paper; and whether the Government intend to take any steps to give effect to the will of the majority of this House?

MR. GIBSON BOWLES

Before the answer to that question is given, may I ask whether it is not the fact that, instead of there being upwards of 600 Amendments, there are not 500; and whether of these 48 do not stand in the name of the President of the Local Government Board?

MR. THORNTON (Clapham)

Arising out of that question, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether this Bill is by no means an unopposed Bill in London; and whether the Wandsworth District Board of Works, representing 170,000 inhabitants and a rateable value of £1,100,000, have not petitioned against the mode of election in the Bill?

SIR D. H. MACFARLANE

May I explain that this question was written on Thursday last, and if there is any correction to be made it should be that 30 days instead of 28 days have been spent in Committee, and that instead of 600 Amendments on the Paper the number is 580.

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

I think, Sir, with regard to the supplementary questions that they do not require notice from me, and, although I should be very sorry to be guilty of any disrespect, I think they were put rather as helps towards the elucidation of the case. I think that the state of facts at the time when my hon. Friend gave his notice justified the question which he put, but since be put it down certain circumstances have occurred which I think have altered the complexion of the case. We have examined and looked very carefully into the matter, and we have arrived at the conclusion that it will be practicable, with the general concurrence of the House, to get the Bill through this House and send it from the House at the latest on the 19th of this month. That being so, we are of opinion that we should not be justified in submitting to the House any exceptional measures.