§ On the introduction of this Bill,
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)Will the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Treasury explain what this Bill is? Judging from the precedent of former years, I expect it will be found to include an atrocious Act with reference to Ireland—an Act passed in 1881, and called the Peace Preservation Bill. Is it included?
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLWill the right hon. Gentleman give the House a list of the Bills included in it, instead of dealing with the House of Commons in the cavalier manner of simply raising his hat? I believe there are something like thirty-four Acts included. I should like to give the House some information as to this Act, which was only to last five years, and ever since 1886 has been renewed year by year. It has now come to be a formal proceeding—
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must be aware that the practice has been not to discuss any particular Bill on the Second Reading, still less on the leave to introduce. The proper time to discuss a particular Act is in Committee, when the schedule is reached.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI will content myself with entering my protest against this method of keeping expiring Acts, and especially this atrocious Act, in force.
Bill to continue various expiring Laws, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Hanbury and Mr. Attorney General.