NOTICE OF MOTION. (Hansard, 26 July 1883)

THE EARL OF CORK
gave Notice that, to-morrow (Friday), he would move that the following Peers should be appointed as the Committee to consider the Manchester Ship Canal Bill:—The Duke of Bedford, the Earl of Devon, the Earl of Aberdeen, the Earl of Camperdown, and Lord Carrington.

§ THE EARL OF REDESDALE (CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES)
said, he was sorry he could not agree to the appointment of the Committee. He did not consider it a fair or a proper Committee to consider such a Bill. He knew how it would decide the question. On a late occasion he had pointed out that it would not be possible to obtain such a Committee, at that period of the Session, and in the present state of the House, as a Bill of so important a character ought to go before. He should, therefore, feel it to be his duty to oppose the appointment of the Committee.

§ EARL GRANVILLE
said, that the noble Earl the Chairman of Committees (the Earl of Redesdale) had, no doubt, a strong feeling on the subject but the ground of the noble Earl's opposition he confessed he could not understand. As a matter of Order, for which the noble Earl was so anxious, the objection should be made when the Committee was moved for, and not now. In addition to the irregularity of his objections, the noble Earl's observations had thrown a reflection upon five of the most deservedly respected Members of their Lordships' House, and was scarcely in accordance with that regularity and order which the noble Earl generally felt it his duty to promote. He (Earl Granville) protested, in the strongest way, not only against what the noble Earl had now said, but against his statement the other day, that those who voted in favour of taking the Committee on the Bill this Session were committed to the merits of the question. As his noble and learned Friend on the Woolsack pointed out, their Lordships had not committed themselves in any respect in that way, although the noble Earl (the Earl of Redesdale) did go very much into the merits of the question. For his own part, he (Earl Granville) could say that he had not made up his mind in the slightest degree whether it was desirable that there should be a Ship Canal to Manchester or not.

§ THE EARL OF REDESDALE (CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES)
said, that if he had taken an unusual course in giving Notice of his intention to oppose the appointment of a Committee, the noble Earl opposite (the Earl of Cork) had also taken an unusual course in what he had done.

THE EARL OF CORK
said, he was sorry the noble Earl (the Chairman of Committees) should think he had done anything that was not perfectly in Order. After the vote the House came to the other night, he felt it his duty to obtain a Committee to inquire into this very important matter. He consulted the Chairman of Committees and his noble Friend opposite, and asked them to obtain assistance from the other side of the House. That assistance, with one exception, was obtained; and the rest he succeeded in doing himself. He now gave Notice of the appointment of the 514 Committee in order that the House might not be taken by surprise.