§ Order for the House to be put into Committee read.
§ MR. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)objected.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND (Waterford)said he was not aware whether the hon. Gentleman who now objected knew that the Leader of the Opposition stated at Question time that he had no objection to the formal Resolution being taken.
§ MR. CLAUDE HAYagain objected.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDasked whether it would be too late for him to request the Leader of the Opposition kindly to repeat now to his follower behind him the 990 expression of opinion he gave at Question time.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE LORD-LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND (Mr. BRYCE,) Aberdeen, S.said he would explain to the House the position of this matter. This was a Bill on which all parties were agreed. The Bill was going to the Grand Committee to-morrow, and it could not proceed unless this Resolution, which was purely formal, was passed.
§ SIR E. CARSONsaid that, so far as he was concerned, the reason why he objected to any facilities being given to this Bill was the way the Government had treated the Irish Unionist Members on equally important Bills—equally important for the labourers of Ireland and the development of the country. The Government had done all they could to prevent those Bills going through, and did it in the most offensive way.
§ MR. BRYCEWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman say to what Bills he refers? I know of no such case.
§ SIR E. CARSONmentioned the Rathmines Bill and the Great Northern of Ireland Railway Bill, on the latter of 991 which the President of the Board of Trade made a most offensive speech.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid he still adhered to the opinion he gave at Question time. As he understood it, this was a matter which had been sent up to Grand Committee, and this was a technical step to carry that decision out. He was not prepared now to raise any objection to the course proposed. As the House very well knew, this was not an unprecedented incident in Parliamentary life. The power which individuals had of objecting was constantly used, and not always reasonably. When Mr. A. used that power unreasonably Mr. B. was apt to retaliate. When that kind of retaliation took place it was time for gentler spirits like himself to refrain.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)asked whether in the circumstances it was intended that the Committee should meet to-morrow. What did the Chief Secretary propose to do? It was evident that they could not proceed with the Bill unless the Resolution was passed.
§ MR. CLAUDE HAYOn a point of order. Is the right hon. Gentleman in order?
§ MR. SPEAKERMr. Bryce.
§ MR. BRYCEsaid that he still hoped that the voice of reason and good-feeling heard in the speech of the Leader of the Opposition would have influence on the right hon. Gentleman's followers. He was not aware of any case in which the Irish 992 Government had thrown any difficulty in the way of any Bill relating to Ireland.
§ MR. CLAUDE HAYI object.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)asked whether there was no means under the rules of the House whereby it was possible to prevent from being blocked by one Member a measure which had the general support of all parties, and which affected the well-being, and almost the life, of tens of thousands.
§ MR. SPEAKERI think the hon. Member is as well aware as I am of the rules of the House. Unless the Government choose to put down the order as first Government order it cannot be proceeded with under present circumstances.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsuggested that the Bill should be taken as the second order on Friday after the Motion for the suspension of the eleven o'clock rule.
§ MR. BRYCEsaid the suggestion would be considered. But the point which he wanted the House to realise was that the greatest difficulty would arise if the Grand Committee, which was summoned to meet to-morrow, had not the Bill to consider.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDThe sooner we get Home Rule the better.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLWe could not be worse than we are.
§ Committee deferred till To-morrow.
§ Adjourned at twenty-six minutes after Eleven o'clock.