HL Deb 20 December 1888 vol 332 cc856-7

Order of the Day for the First Reading, read.

Moved, "That the Bill be now read 1a."—(The Lord Denman.)

Objected to; and,

On Question, resolved in the negative.

LORD DENMAN

What!

THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HALSBURY)

The Not-Contents have it.

LORD DENMAN

I demur, my Lords, to the justice of this proceeding.

LORD HALSBURY

Order, order! The House has already decided, and the noble Lord is not in Order.

LORD DENMAN

I did not hear the Question put, and I hope my noble and learned Friend (the Lord Chancellor) will not persist in taking advantage of my deafness. I have been 34 years a Member of this House, and it seems that I am entitled to speak in every month except October, but I maintain that I am entitled to be heard now. I maintain there is a precedent for the course which I am adopting. When this County Council Electors Bill was presented an idea got into the head of the Prime Minister that no Bill could be presented and repealed in the same year. In 1753 the Duke of Newcastle presented a Bill for the naturalization of the Jews. It was supported by Lord Chatham, and repealed the very same year. There have been very great defects found in the whole framing of these Bills relating to local government. They have been carried in a most irregular manner, through both Houses of Parliament, and I earnestly hope that a different system will prevail, or the liberties of England are gone.