§ Considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ Clause 1:—
§ MR. FORSTERIf I might intervene for a moment I would appeal to the hon. Member who has an Amendment on the 1767 Paper and to those who support it to reserve any observations till Report.
§ MR. GEORGE WHITELEYThere will be no Report stage.
§ MR. MOORE moved, "In page 1, line 1, to leave out 'two vacancies' and insert 'next vacancy.' In the circumstances he merely formally moved, though he confessed he was rather in a difficulty in doing so.
§ MR. CHARLES CRAIGrose to register a protest against what was a virtual application of the guillotine on the Bill. The Amendment on the Paper was of great importance to a great number of people in Ireland, and he himself had handed in an Amendment which he considered important. In view of the agreement between the two Front Benches he felt more or less precluded from entering into the question at any length, because if he were to enter into a debate he would detain the Committee for at least another hour or two. ["Go on."] Although he, like his hon. friend, was in a difficulty, he would not, in view of the arrangement which had been entered into under a mistaken idea, go on. In ordinary circumstances the Amendment would have occupied considerable discussion, and he must repeat his protest, that it was only because of the agreement he and his hon. friends were allowing the matter to go without discussion.
§ MR. CLAUDE HAYsaid he would like to intervene as a peacemaker. What he was going to ask of the Minister in charge of the Bill was this. He had sat up because he was interested in the salary of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, which he wished further to reduce, and what he wished to know was whether, in view of the arrangement come to, unknown to him, the Chief Whip would see that the Third Reading of the Bill was taken at such a time that they might have fair opportunity for discussing their views.
§ MR. GEORGE WHITELEYIt is the usual thing to take the Third Reading immediately in the case of a minor Bill.
§ MR. FORSTERIn the circumstances I hope the hon. Gentleman will not press that.
§ MR. GEORGE WHITELEYIt has always been taken for granted. I did not even make any arrangement about it.
§ MR. CHARLES CRAIGAre we to have no discussion at all?
§ MR. GEORGE WHITELEYIt is almost a formal matter that Third Reading should follow immediately, as a sequel.
§ MR. FORSTERI know that it is constantly done, but I hope that in the circumstances, and seeing I have made a frank and full confession that I misapprehended the situation, the Third Reading will not be pressed just now.
§ MR GEORGE WHITELEYOn the understanding that the Third Reading will not be debated at any great length, I will not ask for it now.
§ MR. CHARLES CRAIGMy hon. friends and myself are quite ready to meet the wishes of the Front Benches, but I would like to say that when the Third Reading comes up we must be allowed a reasonable time for discussion.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Bill reported, without Amendment; to be read the third time Tomorrow (Friday).