§ MR. P. A. McHUGH (Leitrim, N. )moved for a Return setting forth the names and addresses of all persons who have been committed to unlimited terms of imprisonment for Contempt of Court in Ireland to the 31st day of December, 1904; the names of the Judges who issued the orders of attachment; the charges against the persons attached; and the duration of imprisonment in each case in which the order for attachment was executed (in continuation of Parliamentary Paper, No. 145, of session 1902).
§ MR. GRIFFITH BOSCAWEN (Kent, Tunbridge)objected.
§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)Does not the hon. Member require to state the ground of his objection?
§ *MR. SPEAKERMr. Speaker Peel, and myself have several times stated that objections ought not to be taken to Motions for Returns simply on the ground that it is after twelve o'clock. In every case in which we have, said that, the advice we have given has been acquiesced in, and no division has been challenged. But the other evening there was an evident intention, when an objection was taken, to challenge a division. If a division is challenged I can do no more—the matter must be postponed because a division upon it cannot be taken after twelve o'clock. If a division is challenged I am powerless. I desire to express my extreme regret, if the House will allow me, in the interests of the House, and in particular in the interests of the Opposition of the day, that objection should be taken to the Government's giving information which it is ready to give at the request of hon. Members, to Members for the benefit of the whole House. 1500 I should be very glad to find there was a cessation of objections of this kind, and a return to that spirit of toleration and good sense that has hitherto characterised the proceedings of the House in matters of this kind.
§ MR. P. A. McHUGHMay I ask the representative of the Irish Government, i there is a representative of the Irish Government in the House, whether they object to this Return?
§ *MR. SPEAKERI understand that it is an unopposed Return so far as the Government is concerned, but that does not prevent any hon. Member from objecting as I have explained.
§ MR. GRIFFITH BOSCAWENUnder the circumstances I am bound to insist on my objection, and, if necessary, I shall be obliged to divide.
§ SIR FREDERICK BANBURY (Camberwell, Peckham)I would ask the hon. Member to withdraw his objection.
§ *MR. SPEAKERI cannot help thinking that if there was a mutual understanding on both sides in regard to Motions for unopposed Returns there would be no objection to allow them to pass after twelve o'clock.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)I may be allowed to say that where a Return is asked for and is not opposed by the Government I do not think objection ought to be taken, and so far as I and my colleagues are concerned we take no objection to any unopposed Return.
§ MR. GRIFFITH BOSCAWENI do not wish to take any unreasonable objection. An objection was taken a few nights 1501 ago to an unopposed Return from the other side. Now there must be a mutual understanding that, if the objection to this particular Return is withdrawn, unopposed Returns are not to be objected to after twelve o'clock on other occasions.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDIt must be understood that in what I have said I have only spoken for my friends and myself.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)It would be a great pity, after Mr. Speaker has given advice to the House at large, if the House did not arrive at a mutual understanding. The hon. and learned Gentleman the Leader of the Irish Party opposite has made a declaration on behalf of his Party; I am prepared, as far as I am entitled to speak, to give a similar undertaking on the part of the Government's supporters, and I hope the right hon. Gentlemen on the front bench opposite will make a similar statement on behalf of the English Opposition.
§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S. )I have not had time to communicate with my friends on this matter, but I feel strongly that it is in the interest of both sides of the House that no objection should be raised to the giving of all information possible in regard to the public service, and I think the objection taken on the other side is very much to be regretted. I hope this will be regarded as closed, and that in future no obstacle will be placed in the way of getting every possible information.
§ MR. WHITLEY (Halifax)I was interested in the matter the other night which has given rise to this discussion. The objection taken was due to the fact that the notice of Motion for the Return had only appeared on the Paper that day. There had been no time to consider it, and that was why the objection was taken. I have no desire to block any information. My only desire was to get more complete information than was asked for in that particular Return.
§ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL (Oldham)I presume that nothing in any understanding come to will invalidate your ruling as to the right of an hon. Member to object to unopposed Returns if he wishes to do so.
§ *MR. SPEAKERI do not think it is necessary for me to add anything to what I have already said.
Return ordered, "setting forth the names and addresses of all persons who have been committed to unlimited terms of imprisonment for Contempt of Court in Ireland to the 31st day of December, 1904; the names of the Judges who issued the orders of attachment; the charges against the persons attached; and the duration of imprisonment in each case in which the order for attachment was executed (in continuation of Parliamentary Paper, No. 145, of session 1902). "—(Mr. P. A. McHugh.)