HC Deb 06 March 1895 vol 31 cc523-4

The House went into Committee on this Bill.

(In the Committee.)

MR. BROMLEY-DAVENPORT

moved to report Progress.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Is this all the thanks we get for allowing the Market Gardeners' Bill to pass? This is a Bill to carry out the existing law—to clear up the point as to whether road contractors can be paid half-yearly instead of yearly. It is backed by the Conservative Member for Derry; and an hon. Gentleman who, in all probability, was never in Ireland, is good enough to block it. It will be a lesson to Irish Members never to allow an English Bill to pass again.

MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)

reminded the hon. and learned Member for Louth that this Bill had already been read a second time, and all that was now asked was, that it should stand over for one week, in order that a few Members who took an interest in it might make some inquiries as to its operation.

MR. T. M. HEALY

said, that the Grand Juries were sitting at this moment, and there were 30,000 road contractors in Ireland who would be kept out of their money for six months unless this Bill passed. When the Bill was endorsed by so Conservative a man as the Member for Derry, it was certainly a remarkable fact that it should be opposed by some of his friends, who had probably never seen Ireland.

MR. BROMLEY-DAVENPORT

I move that you report Progress, Sir.

Progress reported.