§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker, may I ask you why Question No. 90 on the Paper was not asked, but was passed by; also whether it is in order to put a Question on the Paper and leave it there. The Question involved a charge against a Member of this House, and it was not asked when the time came. This Question referred to the hon. Member for East Clare, and I have reason to know that he is greatly interested in it.
§ [Appended is the Question referred to—
§ MR. LONSDALETo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state the number of cattle-drives reported from North Clare prior to 20th September; whether an official shorthand writer attended the meeting held on that date under the auspices of the United Irish League at Lisdoonvarna; whether he furnished a transcript of the notes of speeches made by the hon. Members for East Clare and East Limerick; whether the transcript discloses any expression of encouragement or disapproval of cattle-driving; and whether he will state the number of cattle-drives that have taken place in that district since the date named.]
§ *MR. SPEAKERI am informed that it is postponed because the hon. Member in whose name it stands thought there was no chance of its being reached, and in order to give other Members a chance I did not call upon the hon. Member.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask whether it is in order to put a Question on the Paper for two or three weeks, and not ask it when it is reached? Would it not be the correct thing to remove it altogether or ask it.
§ MR. LONSDALEMay I say that the Question to which the hon. Member refers was postponed on my request, as I wished to have an oral answer, and at the time I asked the Question there seemed very little possibility of its being reached. It has been on the Paper three or four days, and it has been postponed from day to day for the purpose of getting an oral answer.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDMay I ask whether it is in order not to ask a Question when the opportunity arises, and whether in view of the fact that this Question involves a charge against a Member of the House it cannot be answered at once. I may point out that it makes a reference to an alleged speech made by the hon. Member for East Clare. Would I be in order in saying that I can answer the Question by saying that I am ready to make the speech now. I think it is a very good one.
§ *MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member in whose name the Question stands has given an explanation of the circumstances under which he postponed it, not expecting that it would be reached. He informed me, and accordingly I did not call upon him.
§ MR. LONSDALEI am ready to ask it now.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDCannot it be put at once? It may save a lot of time and trouble.
§ *MR. SPEAKERI think we had better follow the usual rule.