HC Deb 07 August 1900 vol 87 cc959-62

Lords Amendment considered.

Lords Amendment, in page 2, line 11 (to leave out from "orchard" to in line 12), read a second time.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (Kilkenny)

said he knew that it was hopeless after the last division to oppose the Lords Amendment; but, as he feared that this Amendment would interfere with the carrying out of useful tramway projects, he asked the Attorney General for Ireland for some explanation. The Bill was backed by all parties in Ireland. He must say that in the whole history of the House of Lords a more stupid interference had never been attempted by them with any Bill.

*MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member must speak respectfully of the Members of the other House.

MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

Very well; but the fact remained that if this Amendment were insisted upon it was another evidence of the proceedings of this House being controlled by the House of Lords, even when that Chamber was not able to muster a quorum. He did not feel disposed to destroy the Bill, but he wished the Attorney General to tell the House the exact meaning of the words struck out of the Bill.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (MR. ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.

said that the original Bill of 1860 prevented a tramway company from acquiring compulsorily ornamental timber, gardens and orchards attached to houses built with bricks. The Bill as it left the House repealed that section, and the House of Lords had struck out the words in regard to a plantation, so that it would not be possible for a tramway company to acquire compulsorily any plantation attached to any house of any character.

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR

hoped that, after the triumphant exposure of the methods pursued in the House of Lords, the right hon. Gentleman would reject this ridiculous Amendment, and restore the Bill to the original state in which it left the House of Commons. His hon. friend was so anxious that the Bill should pass even in its truncated shape that he was not disposed to push things to extremities; but the right hon. Gentleman should really insist on restoring the Bill to its original and rational shape without amendment. The Government came down and asked the House to accept this Amendment on the plea I that they had no power to influence the matter in another place. That was not the general idea with regard to the action of the Government. He did not wish to accuse the Government of any omission of duty, but when Irish Bills of this importance were brought in they ought to take the necessary means to prevent them being mutilated by the fractious conduct of the other House.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL

deplored the fact that such a healthy measure as the Government had produced, and which they had themselves drafted, should be checked in its action by the vote of a single Lord. He appealed to the First Lord of the Treasury to do something to remove that cheek.

MR. G. W. BALEOUR

, on behalf of the Government, joined lion. Members opposite in regretting the Amendments made by the House of Lords, but he thought it was better, having regard to all the circumstances of he case, to give way, because if they did not they might lose the whole Bill. The hon. Member for Kilkenny would exercise a very wise discretion in not pressing the matter to a division.