HC Deb 11 July 1902 vol 111 cc67-8

(5.30.) On the Motion for adjournment:—

*MR. STUART WORTLEY (Sheffield Hallam)

said he wished to make a personal explanation. In the debate last night on the Motion of his right hon. friend the Member for Oxford University in regard to the proposal to amend a special Order made by the Home Secretary with reference to the fruit preserving industry, he had contested the argument of the Home Secretary that, should the House disagree with the Order, then he could not make a fresh Order for the space of forty days. The right hon. Gentleman had assured him that the Act called the Rules Publication Act, 1893, applied to the case, and that it would have been necessary for him to wait forty days in order to give a sufficient amount of notice to the public outside. He regretted that by putting his own opinion, for which he still thought there were some grounds, in the affirmative form and not in the interrogative, he had not given the right hon. Gentleman the opportunity of correcting it. The matter was really of importance, and had affected some of the votes given. He had made the statement at the time in the full belief that the right hon. Gentleman would correct him if he was wrong, but the last thing in the world that he should desire to do would be to accuse his right hon. friend of even the semblance of injustice.

*THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. RITCHIE,) Croydon

I am much obliged to my right hon. friend for the statement he has made, which is one all who know him might have expected from him when he finds that he has made a mistake in what was really a very important matter. I had already stated in the previous debate that it was necessary for a new Order to be published in draft for forty days. My right hon. friend not only contested that statement, but expressed a belief entirely in the opposite direction. It was not in my power to rise and make a full explanation at the time, or I should have done so. My right hon. friend now grants that I was right. I have no doubt the matter did affect some votes, but that is now a thing of the past, and I am much obliged to my right hon. friend for having put the matter right.

Adjourned at twenty-five minutes before Six o'clock till Monday next.