§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Belfast whether he means to proceed with his Sale of Intoxicating Liquors (Ireland) Bill, as amended by the Standing Committee on Trade?
§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)the hon. Member is, no doubt, aware that the Bill was amended in Grand Committee on the lines of the compromise negotiated by the hon. Member for South Tyrone. I had no knowledge of the negotiations that took place, nor was I consulted. I was no party to the compromise, and when the Bill was before the Committee I stated clearly that I could not be bound in any way in regard to future legislation, but, at the same time, the arrangements come to were such that I could not take the responsibility of rejecting them and imperilling the Bill.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIs it not the fact that the Grand Committee were perfectly unanimous in this matter, and that not a single division was taken?
§ MR. SLOANYes, and it is that circumstance which caused me to refuse to take the responsibility of withdrawing the Bill; at the same time I strongly protested against the alterations.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDYou did not vote against them.