§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that in October, 1882, the Government of the day promised, on an early date, to introduce a measure with a view of defining and limiting the power of fine and committal for contempt of court; and, having regard to the expressions used by Lord Russell of Killowen from the judicial bench in April, 1896, in the case of Payne v. Cooper, with respect to applications for contempt of court and the decisions thereon, whether the Government will take into consideration the propriety at an early day of proposing legislation on this subject themselves or of affording facilities for the passage through Parliament of the Bill on this subject introduced by the hon. Member for North Leitrim.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I can hold out no hope to the hon. Gentleman of being able to find time for a 50 measure on this subject during the course of the present session, nor do I regard myself as being a universal legatee of pledges made in the Parliament of 1882.