§ LORD STANLEY (Lancashire, Westhoughton)moved the Second Reading of this Bill?
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSONhoped the Government would not take a Bill like this at this hour of the night. [The ATTORNEY GENERAL: "Why not?"] Because they wanted proper discussion upon it at a proper hour. The Bill introduced quite a new principle into our legislation, and he objected to its being taken now.
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER,) Isle of Wightsaid he had an appeal to make to the hon. Baronet, and he hoped it would meet with some success. The hon. Baronet was preventing the House from bringing itself into accordance with the law. As he said the other night, if the hon. Baronet would bring in a Bill to limit the supply of refreshments to Members of the House, that would be a proper subject of discussion, but it was astonishing that a man who posed as the champion of temperance and law and order should really wish the House to go on breaking the law. [Laughter and cheers.] He reminded the hon. Baronet that they had to consider others besides themselves. The Press Gallery, for instance, desired to get reasonable refreshment, and he must say it was very extraordinary that they should be asked not to pass this simple Measure, which would simply legalise the practice of the last 50 years. ["Hear, hear!"]
§ MR. PATRICK M'HUGH (Leitrim, N.)said that, though he was not a teetotaler, he joined the hon. Baronet in expressing the opinion that it was desirable that the Government should give time for the proper discussion of the Bill.
§ MR. SPEAKERDo I understand that the hon. Member objects?
§ MR. PATRICK M'HUGHOh, yes, Sir.
§ Second Reading deferred till Monday next.
§ House adjourned at Five minutes after Twelve o'clock till Monday next