HC Deb 23 August 1895 vol 36 cc766-8
THE PATRONAGE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir W. WALROND,) Devon, Tiverton

moved: That Mr. Speaker do issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown in Ireland to make out a new Writ for the Borough of Dublin (St. Stephen's Green Division), in the room of William Kenny, Esquire, Q.C., Her Majesty's Solicitor-General for Ireland.

MR. P. O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)

asked whether it was in order to make such a Motion at that stage of the proceedings of the House.

* MR. SPEAKER

It is in order to make it before the Orders of the Day, or after them, as it is made now.

MR. P. O'BRIEN

Then I beg to move the adjournment of the Debate.

* MR. SPEAKER

I may tell the hon. Gentleman that I shall not put that Motion to the House. ["Hear, hear!"]

MR. P. O'BRIEN

submitted that the whole proceeding was unusual and irregular. Notice was given that the Writ would be moved for at the usual time after the Speaker took the Chair. It was not moved for then, and so he wanted to know the reason why the Government had departed from the usual practice in the matter. The Government had done without the services of the Irish Solicitor-General for a fortnight, and surely they might do without them for a few days longer, and proceed regularly in moving for the Writ. Besides, they had at their disposal in the House the services of the late Solicitor-General for Ireland. The Government could only have adopted their present line of action for a Party purpose. They thought to steal a march on their political opponents in Dublin, but they would fail, for he could tell them there would be a contest for the seat, and the probability was that this gentleman would not return to the House again.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

I think the hon. Gentleman must feel that the objection he has made to the Motion for the Writ is one that can hardly bear examination. He says insufficient notice was given. But the right hon. Gentleman near me tells me that notice was given to the Whips of the two Nationalist Parties, so that there was the fullest notice given that this proceeding would be taken. I think the right hon. Gentleman will feel, when he reconsiders his argument, that there is no ground for postponing to another day a matter which we can very well finish before we separate to-night.

MR. T. M. HEALY

said that this office had been left vacant for two months, so that there could be no hurry. The regular course would be for the Motion to come on at the beginning of public business; and no explanation had been given of the time chosen for bringing forward the Motion.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

A pure accident.

MR. T. M. HEALY

The same sort of accident, I suppose, which led to the office not being filled for the last two months.

* MR. SPEAKER

I think it right to inform the hon. Member that the hon. Member who moved this Writ did rise to move it before the Orders of the Day. But immediately after the last supplementary question, I had called on the hon. Member for Merionethshire, whose name was down for a Motion before public business, and the rule is, that when once a notice of that kind has been moved, no other Motion can be taken before the Orders of the. Day. Therefore, I told the hon. Baronet that he could not move the Writ until the Orders of the Day had been disposed of.

MR. T. M. HEALY

said, that he accepted absolutely and fully the statement which the Speaker had made as an answer to his remarks. But the hon. Gentleman who had protested against the Motion represented a small but important section of the House. He was alone, and his colleagues had gone away, and as he considered himself aggrieved and was an Irishman, he was naturally inclined to support him. The House could fairly take notice of the consideration that the constituency had been informed by the hon. Member that the Writ would not be moved till Monday. He moved an Amendment to the effect that Mr. Speaker do issue his Writ "on Monday next" to the Clerk of the Crown. He commented on the manifest inconvenience of the new arrangement of the Government, whereby the Orders of the Day should be run through first, and then that a Motion of this kind should be interpolated between them and the adjournment of the House.

* MR. SPEAKER

said, the hon. Member would not be in order in moving the alteration of the Motion for the issue of the Writ. The only course open to the hon. Member would be to negative the Motion, and then on Monday a Writ could be moved by any hon. Member.

MR. T. M. HEALY

suggested to the consideration of the Speaker the case of Winchester, when Colonel Tottenham died. He thought that on that occasion there was a Motion made for the postponement of the Writ.

* MR. SPEAKER

said, he was not aware that a Motion had been made on that or any other occasion to alter the form of the Motion.

MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)

submitted that, according to the Sessional Order passed the other day, it was not possible to make the Motion.

The House divided:—For the Motion, 114; against, 21.—(Division List, No. 20.)

MR. T. M. HEALY

On a point of order, Sir, may I ask you would it be in order for a non-Member of the Government to move a new Writ for the city of Limerick now?

* MR. SPEAKER

I think it would, on the ground of privilege.

Whereupon, Mr. Speaker, in pursuance of the Order of the House of the 19th August, adjourned the House without Question put.

House adjourned at Twenty-five minutes before Two o'clock till Monday next.