§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydfil)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that demonstrations calling for the passing of the Unemployed Workmen Bill, with Amendments, have been held in London, Manchester, and elsewhere; and whether, 411 in view of this expression of opinion, he will now give an undertaking that the Bill will be passed this session.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI cannot give the undertaking which the hon. Gentleman asks for.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIECan the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that he has the intention of passing the Bill this session?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo, Sir. I will give no pledge on the subject at all.
§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)May I ask whether, having regard to the general disinclination to take the Scotch Education Bill on Friday, the right hon. Gentleman will substitute the Unemployed Bill.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think there is the general disinclination to which the hon. Member refers.
§ MR. CROOKSMay I follow my Question up with another? Are we only to have such legislation as there is sufficient disturbance in the country to demand? That is the excuse for taking the Churches Bill.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEasked leave to move the adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance—namely, the refusal of the Government to give a definite undertaking of their intention to pass the Unemployed Workmen Bill this session.
§ *MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member, I think, fails for want of definiteness. The Government cannot give any undertaking to pass a Bill; it is the House that passes Bills; and the Government cannot have power to bind the House to pass a particular Bill. The Bill stands upon the Order Paper, and it may be reached and may be passed in due course.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEMay I point out that my Motion refers to the refusal of the Government to give an undertaking of their intention to pass the Bill, and to give adequate time for that purpose. If they were prepared to give time for the purpose that would be evidence of their intention, but the Prime Minister has refused to give time.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDMay I submit that the refusal of the Government to allocate time is a definite matter as well as urgent and important.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR, on a point of older, asked whether the fact that any Bill was not treated precisely as some-individual wished had ever been made a matter of public importance. He doubted whether it would be possible to carry on the business of the House if that were so.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDIt is your own Bill.
§ MR. CROOKSI want to urge this upon you, Sir. Nothing could be of more importance for the House of Commons to discuss than the case of honest workmen desirous of finding means of getting a livelihood.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEMay I put this point. Great demonstrations have been held, and if this Bill is not carried into law this session there is a good chance of riots and disturbances taking place throughout the country. [MINISTERIAL cries of "Order!"] Well-fed beasts opposite may well shout "Order."
§ *MR. SPEAKERI have already said that, in my judgment, this matter does, not come within the rule.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEThis is a Government Bill—["Order"]—it is public business of State, and I declare it to be the first business of the Government to legislate to prevent the breaking of the public peace. There is a danger of that, and that is what I hope will take place if this Bill does not become law.
§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)Bring them down here and clear out the House.