PRIVATE BILL BUSINESS.

HC Deb 26 July 1905 vol 150 cc329-32

There were thirty private Bills and Provisional Orders set down for consideration, but their progress was again "blocked."

MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)

objected to all the Bills, with the exception of the Dublin United Tramways Bill. In this case, however, a Ministerialist retaliated by "blocking" the Bill, which, with all the others, was again postponed.

On the Order for the Second Reading of the Central London Railway Bill.

MR. CALDWELL (Lanarkshire, Mid.)

who was in charge of the business connected with private Bills, moved that the Order be read and discharged and the Bill withdrawn.

MR. MACVEAGH

objected.

MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Member cannot object to the withdrawal of a private Bill.

The Motion was agreed to

MR. CALDWELL

made a similar Motion with regard to the Great Northern, Piccadilly, and Brompton Railway (No. 2) Bill.

MR. MACVEAGH

renewed his objection.

MR. SPEAKER

I have already told the hon. Member he has no power to object.

MR. MACVEAGH,

on a point of order, asked the Speaker whether such a Motion could only be sanctioned with the leave of the House.

MR. SPEAKER

No objection can be taken to the withdrawal of a private Bill.

An hon. Member may object to progress being made with a Bill, but not to its withdrawal.

The Motion was agreed to.

MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottinghamshire, Rushcliffe)

asked the Chairman of Committees whether he had come to any conclusion as to the course he proposed to take in the circumstances which had arisen in regard to private Bills.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (Mr. GRANT LAWSON, Yorkshire, N.R., Thirsk)

said this was a matter that rested with him as Chairman of Committees and did not concern the Government in any way. He regretted very much the course that had been taken, though hon. Members might take what course they pleased. It appeared to him extremely hard that private people and corporations, after they had spent perhaps tens of thousands of pounds in the promotion of Bills—

MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)

you have no right to deliver a lecture. Answer the Question.

MR. GRANT LAWSON

was understood to say that, if the opposition were persisted in, it was his intention to put down a Motion suspending all the Bills whose progress had been barred until next session.

MR. JOHN ELLIS

Is that what is known as a hanging-up Motion?

MR. GRANT LAWSON

Yes. As at present advised, that is what will be done.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

Do I understand the hon. Gentleman to say that he proposes to move that the whole of these thirty odd Bills shall be deferred to next session?

MR. GRANT LAWSON

Yes, Sir. It has been done on many occasions. I think there are seven or eight precedents for this course.

Baker Street and Waterloo Railway Bill (by Order); Charing Cross, Euston, and Hampstead Railway Bill (by Order); Edgware and Hampstead Railway Bill (by Order); London and North Western Railway Bill (by Order); Metropolitan Electric Tramways Bill (by Order); Dublin United Tramways Bill (by Order); Midland Railway Bill (by Order); Skegness Water Bill (by Order); Woolwich Borough Council Bill (by Order). Consideration of Lords Amendments deferred till To-morrow.

Formby Township Bill [Lords] (by Order); Workington Harbour and Dock Bill [Lords] (by Order); Llandrindod Wells Urban District Council Bill [Lords] (by Order); Matlock Bath Improvement Bill [Lords] (by Order); Metropolitan Electric Supply Company (Acton District) Bill [Lords] (by Order); Sheffield University Bill [Lords] (by Order); South Lancashire Tramways Bill [Lords] (by Order). Third Reading deferred till To-morrow.

Littlehampton Urban District Council Bill [Lords] (by Order); Shepton Mallet Gas Company (Electric Lighting) Bill [Lords] (by Order); Bristol Blind Asylum Bill [Lords] (by Order); Corbett Estate Bill [Lords] (by Order); County of London Electric Supply Company Bill [Lords] (by Order); Huraber Conservancy Bill [Lords] (by Order); South port, Birkdale, and West Lancashire Water Board Bill [Lords] (by Order); Newcastle-upon-Tyne Corporation Bill [Lords] (by Order). Consideration, as amended, deferred till To-morrow.

Central London Railway Bill (by Order). Order for Second Reading read and discharged. Bill withdrawn.

Great Northern, Piccadilly, and Brompton Railway (No. 2) Bill (by Order). Order for Second Reading read, and discharged. Bill withdrawn.

Edinburgh Corporation Order Confirmation Bill [Lords]; Esk Valley Power Gas Order Confirmation Bill [Lords]; Stone haven Harbour Order Confirmation Bill [Lords]. Consideration deferred till To-morrow.

Glasgow Corporation Order Confirmation Bill [Lords]. Second Reading deferred till To-morrow.

Tramways Orders Confirmation (No. 1) Bill [Lords]. Second Reading deferred: till Monday next (Evening Sitting).

Electric Lighting Provisional Orders (No. 9) Bill [Lords] (by Order). Second Reading deferred till Monday next (Evening Sitting).

Education Board Provisional Order Confirmation (London, No. 1) Bill [Lords]. Reported, without Amendment [Provisional Order confirmed]; Report to lie upon the Table. Bill to be read the third time To-morrow.

Electric Lighting Provisional Orders I (No. 8) Bill [Lords]. Reported, without Amendment [Provisional Orders confirmed]; Report to he upon the Table. Bill to be read the third time To-morrow.

Central Electric Supply Bill [Lords]; Oldham and Saddleworth District Tramways Bill [Lords]; Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation Bill [Lords]. Reported, with Amendments; Reports to lie upon the Table, and to be printed.

Rhymney and Aber Valleys Gas and Water Company Bill [Lords]. Reported, with Amendments; Report to lie upon the Table.