ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. (Hansard, 28 June 1897)

§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY
said he understood that a change, not less substantial because it had no manifestation in the Division Lobby, had taken place in the affairs of the House—[Opposition laughter]—and he moved, "That the House do now adjourn."

§ MR. J. SAMUEL (Stockton)
appealed to the right hon. Gentleman to allow the Motion for the Steam Engines and Boilers (Persons in Charge) Bill to be referred to the Standing Committee on Trade to be proceeded with now, the Debate having been adjourned on February 17.

MR. LLOYD-GEOGE (Carnarvon Boroughs)
hoped that the Leader of the House would respond to this appeal. The Measure was of importance industrially, and it had been Read a Second time this Session. A strong feeling existed in favour of it among the working classes of the country, because it affected the lives and the limbs of workmen employed under dangerous conditions. What advantage was to be gained by adjourning the House at that early hour? Was there any reason of State? The right hon. Gentleman had not adduced a single reason in favour of his Motion. Hon. Members had enjoyed their holiday over 682 the Jubilee, and other persons in the community had returned to work. [Cries of "Divide," and "Order!"] The Twelve o'clock Rule had been suspended repeatedly in order to force measures through this Session, but now with five hours ahead of them for work the Government proposed to adjourn rather than deal with a Bill affecting the working classes. He hoped that this fact would be remembered by the constituents of hon. Members opposite, and especially by the constituents of the hon. Member for Haggerston. [Cheers.] They would not, he hoped, also forget to remember that with such a Bill before them the Leader of the House got up and contemptuously moved the adjournment without an argument being adduced in favour of the Motion. Thus, when the interests of the Church were concerned, and when there was an opportunity of passing a Bill reforming the administration of the Church in London, the right hon. Gentleman opposite said, "No, let us go to a theatre or a dinner party," instead of legislating for the Church and the working man. He opposed the adjournment.

§ MR. LOUGH
said that he thought the right hon. Gentleman might look favourably on the suggestion which had been thrown out, and take the next two Orders, both of which were practically unopposed. They had been before the House frequently, and were agreed to in principle by both Parties.

§ MR. DALZIEL
asked the right hon. Gentleman to consider that private Members had had very few opportunities this Session. At the very commencement of the Session, for reasons that were considered satisfactory by the House, the right hon. Gentleman thought it necessary to take Tuesday evening, and at a later period he took Wednesday. During the last few weeks there had been practically no opportunity of moving a private Member's Bill, and he appealed to the right hon. Member whether he would not in this matter make a slight 683 concession to the Opposition. He was sure he would agree that they had paid every deference to the wishes of the Government in the course of to-night; and he hoped, as the right hon. Gentleman was anxious to get away, and they were also anxious to get away, provided they could get the Bills they were anxious to see passed, he would be willing to consider the suggestion which had been put before him. He wished to point out that the two next Bills were practically non-contentious. Surely the right hon. Gentleman could allow the Archdeaconry of London Bill to be read a Second time. It was a Bill promoted by Members of his own side of the House as well as on the opposite side, and there were special and urgent reasons why it should be passed in the course of the present year. It was a Bill which he was sure the right hon. Gentleman himself would support if he was made acquainted with its provisions. With regard to the Bill of his hon. Friend, it had been accepted by the House, and all they asked was that it should be committed to the Standing Committee upstairs. If the right hon. Gentleman would make these small concessions, he would not be detained long.

§ *MR. J. C. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)
said if the right hon. Gentleman was in the mood for making concessions, he hoped he would consider the Crofters' Holdings (Scotland) Act (1886) Amendment Bill, and the School Board Electorate (Scotland) Bill. He had endeavoured for the last two Sessions to get these Bills through, and he hoped the right hon. Gentleman would concede either the one or the other, or, better still, both. [Laughter.]

MR. GIBSON BOWLES
trusted the right hon. Gentleman would not make any concessions. [Cheers.] As for saying that he had given no reason for the adjournment, he had given the best possible reason, namely, that there were now more Members on his side of the House than there were some time ago. 684 [Laughter.] He would remind hon. Gentlemen that in the hour of their triumph they exercised their power without mercy. The measure of their iniquity was now full. [Laughter.] The right hon. Gentleman should remember their misdeeds in the past when a contrary state of things obtained. He certainly ought not to give way on a Bill which he was informed was most highly contentious. If the conduct of hon. Gentlemen opposite had been just, not to say generous, he might have given way on a non-contentious Bill; but he could not allow their appeal to be made without making an appeal in a contrary direction. [Cheers.]

§ DR CLARK (Caithness)
said the two Bills in question were very important Bills, and they were practically non-contentious. ["No, no!"] They had been before the House for years, and had been modified, the one by Members on one side of the House and the other by Members on the other side. Both Bills had been discussed and approved; but the half-past five o'clock Rule prevented their being sent to Committee; and now there was time to do it, the right hon. Gentleman refused, in a congested House, to send these two Bills forward for further consideration—for that was all they asked. He could understand the Government feeling a little sore after being three times defeated, but he hoped the right hon. Gentleman would give way.

§ DR AMBROSE (Mayo, W.)
suggested that the Government and their friends, if they were tired, should go home and Leave Members on that side of the House to do the work. [Laughter.]