Sitting of 25 June 1895

Preamble
The House met at Three of the Clock.
PROVISIONAL ORDER BILLS.
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PRO VISIONAL ORDER (No. 10) BILL.
  As amended, considered; read 3°, and passed.

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 17) BILL, and
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 18) BILL.
  Read 2º, and committed.

  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 5) BILL [H.L.]
  Read 1º; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills; and to be printed.—[Bill 325.]
  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 6) BILL [H.L.]
  Read 1º and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills; and to be printed.—[Bill 326.]
  OUTDOOR RELIEF (SPECIFIED COUNTIES).
  Return (presented 24th June) to be printed.—[No. 321.]
  ARMY (MILITARY PRISONS).
  Copy presented of Report on the Discipline and Management of the Military Prisons for 1894 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
  INCOME TAX ASSESSMENTS.
  Return presented relative thereto (ordered 27th May, Mr. Bartley; to lie upon the Table; and to be printed.—[No. 322.]
  PRISONS (DEPARTMENTAL COM MITTEE).
  Copy presented of Minutes of Evidence taken by the Departmental Committee on Prisons, with Appendices and Index [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
  EXPLOSIONS (TIMSBURY COLLIERY).
  Copy presented of Reports to the Secretary of State on the circumstances attending an explosion which occurred in the Timsbury Colliery on the 6th February 1895, by J. Roskill, Esquire, Barrister-at-Law, and Joseph S. Martin, Esquire, Her Majesty's Inspector of Mines [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
  EDUCATION (ENGLAND AND WALES).
  Copy presented of Report of the Committee of Council, 1894–95 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
  JAPAN (No. 1), 1895.
  Copy presented of Despatch from Her Majesty's Minister at Tokio forwarding Copy of the Treaty of Peace concluded between China and Japan, 17th April 1895 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
  TRAMWAYS ORDERS CONFIRMATION (No. 1) BILL [H.L.]
  Copy presented of Memorandum stating the nature of the proposals contained in the Provisional Orders included in the Bill [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
  TRAMWAYS ORDERS CONFIRMATION (No. 2) BILL [H.L.]
  Copy presented,—of Memorandum stating the nature of the proposals contained in the Provisional Orders included in the Bill [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
  WATER ORDERS CONFIRMATION BILL [H.L.]
  Copy presented,—of Memorandum stating the nature of the proposals contained in the Provisional Orders included in the Bill [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
  STATION NAME BOARDS.
  Copy presented,—of Circular from the Board of Trade to the Railway Companies of the United Kingdom, and Correspondence relative thereto [by Command]; to lie upon the Table.
  ELECTRIC LIGHTING ACTS, 1882 TO 1890 (PROCEEDINGS).
  Copy presented,—of Report by the Board of Trade respecting the Applications to and Proceedings of the Board under the above Acts during the past year [by Act]; to lie upon the Table.
  ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND.
  Paper laid upon the Table by the Clerk of the House:—Account of Receipts and Expenditure for the year ended 31st March 1895, with Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General thereon [by Act]; to be printed.—[No. 323.]

  NATIONAL EDUCATION (IRELAND) (CONSCIENCE CLAUSE).
  Copy ordered,—
  "of Correspondence in the year 1895 between the Irish Commissioners of National Education for Ireland, with extracts of Minutes of the Proceedings of the Commissioners, in relation to certain proposed changes in the rules under which grants are made by Parliament for Elementary Education in Ireland."—(Mr. John Morley).
  Copy presented accordingly; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed.—[No. 324.]

  TRAMWAYS ORDERS CONFIRMATION (No. 1) BILL [H.L.]
  Read 1º and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, and to be printed.—[Bill 324.]
PRIVATE BUSSINESS.

  THE NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY BILL.
  DR. FARQUHARSON DR. FARQUHARSON moved, "That this Bill, as amended, be considered."
  MR. H. LABOUCHERE MR. H. LABOUCHERE (Northampton) moved, "That the Debate be now adjourned," on the ground that the present
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  moment was hardly the time in which to raise a Debate, which must necessarily occupy a considerable time, upon a local question. The last time that the matter was before the House, the discussion lasted for two hours. In these circumstances, therefore, he merely begged leave to move the adjournment of the Debate. Of course, if the Motion for the Adjournment were refused, his hon. Friend who had given notice of his opposition to the Bill, did not wish to lose his opportunity of stating his objections to the measure.
  MR. D. LLOYD-GEORGEseconded the Motion for the adjournment of the Debate.
  MR. JOHN BAIRDsaid, that he hoped the House would not accept the Motion for the Adjournment of the Debate.
  MR. J. H. DALZIELsaid, that he desired to explain the circumstances under which this measure, which was originally an opposed Bill, came before the Committee on unopposed Bills; and had, therefore, come back to that House much sooner than it otherwise would have done. The constituency which he represented, and many others, were very much opposed to the Bill as it stood. Through a misunderstanding, the notice of opposition to the Bill was delayed until it was too late to give it; and, therefore, those who opposed the measure had not had an opportunity of stating their objections to it, and it was only in that House that the matter could be threshed out. It was for that reason that he supported the Motion for the Adjournment of the Debate, especially as the House, under the peculiar circumstances in which they had met that day, would be indisposed to listen to the discussion on a local question. Nothing would be lost by the adjournment of the Debate, because, in any case, the consideration of the Bill would be resumed in the future in precisely the same stage in which it was then. He hoped that the House would consent to adjourn the Debate.
  MR. J. PARKER SMITHsaid, that he did not think that the arguments which had been put forward in support of the Motion for the adjournment of the Debate would weigh very much with the House. This Bill

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  had been before the House since the beginning of the Session, and it was not opposed either by Kirkcaldy or any other locality. The only opposition to the measure had come from the Caledonian Railway Company on a totally different point from that which was raised to it by those who supported the Motion for the adjournment of the Debate. He would point out that the Bill was before that House as the first of the two Houses of Parliament, and that any local question which it was desired to raise might be raised when the measure was before a Committee of the House of Lords. It was perfectly impossible for that House that day, or at any other time, to enter into any discussion on local questions, because that was contrary to the principle upon which the proceedings of the House were conducted, which was that such matters should be referred to a Committee, and that that House would abide by the decision of their Committee. It was a matter of considerable importance to the promoters of the Bill that it should be proceeded with at once, because otherwise the Bill would be in serious danger of being lost. He hoped that the House would allow the Bill to proceed in the ordinary and regular course.
  THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (Mr. MELLOR,said, that he was chairman of the Unopposed Bill Committee before whom the Bill had come. The Bill came before them in the ordinary way as an unopposed Bill. It appeared to him that it was too late to take an objection of this character on the Third Reading of the Bill, and he thought that the House ought not to consent to the Motion for the adjournment of the Debate. He thought it his duty to say this much in defence of the action of the Committee. He did not know whether, if the Motion for the adjournment of the Debate were carried, it would entail the loss of the Bill, but he thought that the position of the promoters would be very seriously damnified if the Motion were agreed to.
  The House divided:—Ayes, 150; Noes 217.—(Division List, No. 140.)
  Original Question put.
  MR. LABOUCHEREon the point of Order, asked whether the Directors of
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  the North British Line had the right to vote, as he was informed that two of the Directors had done so.
  MR. SPEAKERsaid, he saw no objection to the Directors voting.
  MR. J. H. DALZIELsaid, it was exceedingly tempting to raise important questions in the interests of his constituents. He might not, however, be successful in the end, and he was inclined to study what he believed to be the general desire of the House, and not raise these important questions on that occasion. He would content himself with dividing against the Third Reading of the Bill.
  Original Question again put, and agreed to.
  Ordered, that the Bill be now read the, third time.
  [Queen's Consent signified.]
  Bill read 3º, and passed.

  ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.
  SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTentered the House at a Quarter to Four o'clock and was greeted with loud Ministerial cheers. He immediately rose and said,—Mr. Speaker, I was in hopes that I should have been able to give the House some more definite information than is at present in my possession. Under these circumstances I think the best course I can now take is to move the Adjournment of the House.
  Several hon. MEMBERS: Until when?
  SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT: Tomorrow. [Laughter.]
  SIR RICHARD TEMPLE: May I ask whether an important Parliamentary Committee will have leave to sit to-morrow? Will the right hon. Gentleman arrange for a Motion to be made to enable the Committee to sit to-morrow?
  SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT: There will be no alteration in the ordinary practice. We are merely moving the adjournment of the House at this hour instead of at midnight. [Laughter.]
  House adjourned at a Quarter before Four o'clock until Twelve o'clock To-morrow.

PROVISIONAL ORDER BILLS.
  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 4) BILL [H.L.]
  Reported from the Select Committee with Amendments, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 10) BILL.
  Brought from the Commons, and read 1a. (No. 177.)
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 10) BILL.
    ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (TOTTENHAM) BILL [H.L.]
    Amendments reported (according to Order), and Bill to be read 3a on Thursday next.

    COMMONS REGULATION (BEXHILL) PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL.
    COMMONS REGULATION (HALIFAX) PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL.
    INCLOSURE (CASTOR AND AILSWORTH) PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL.
    LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 5) BILL.
    PIER AND HARBOUR PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 3) BILL.
    House in Committee (according to Order): Bills reported without Amendment; Standing Committee negatived; and Bills to be read 3a on Thursday next.

    DRAINAGE AND IMPROVEMENT OF LANDS (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL.
    LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 7) BILL.
    LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 8) BILL.
    LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 9) BILL.
    Read 2a (according to Order).

    INCLOSURE (UPTON ST. LEONARDS) PRO VISIONAL ORDER BILL.
    Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.
    BURGH POLICE (SCOTLAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (PAISLEY) BILL.
    Read 2a (according to Order).

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDER (GAS) BILL.
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 4) BILL.
  Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 5) BILL.
  Read 2a (according to Order).
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 6) BILL.
  Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 8) BILL.
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 9) BILL.
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 11) BILL.
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 12) BILL.
  Read 2a (according to Order).

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (HOUSING OF WORKING CLASSES) BILL.
  Read 2a (according to Order); and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (HOUSING OF WORKING CLASSES) (No. 2) BILL.
  Read 2a (according to Order.)
GAS ORDERS CONFIRMATION BILL [H.L.]
  GAS AND WATER ORDERS CONFIRMATION BILL [H.L.]
  Read 3a (according to Order), and passed, and sent to the Commons.
  EARLDOM OF SELBORNE.
  Message to the House of Commons for copy of the Report, etc., of the Select Committee.
  ARMY (MILITARY PRISONS.)
  Report on the discipline and management of the Military Prisons for 1894.
  STATION NAME BOARDS.
  Circular from the Board of Trade to the Railway Companies of the United Kingdom, and correspondence relative thereto.

  EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
  Report of the Committee of Council on Education (England and Wales), 1894–95.
  Presented (by Command), and Ordered to lie on the Table.

  ELECTRIC LIGHTING ACTS, 1882 TO 1890 (PROCEEDINGS.)
  Report by the Board of Trade respecting the applications to and proceedings of the Board of Trade under the Electric Lighting Acts, 1882 to 1890, during the past year.
  Laid before the House (pursuant to Act), and Ordered to lie on the Table.

  ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.
  THE EARL OF CRANBROOK THE EARL OF CRANBROOK rose and said: Seeing the noble Earl (the Earl of Rosebery) in his place, I may say that Lord Salisbury will not be hero to-day, and I can only ask the noble Earl to move the adjournment of the House till Thursday.
  THE EARL OF ROSEBERY: Yes, after business.

  SEAL FISHERIES (NORTH PACIFIC) BILL.
  THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY moved the Second Reading of this Bill. He said he did not think it necessary for him to explain the Bill. It was simply for the purpose of enabling the Government of this country to fulfil their agreement with Russia, which had lately been renewed, and re-enacted provisions in former Acts with alterations. The only remark he wished to make was with regard to one single point. He understood that objection was taken in another place to leaving out the scheduling of the clauses of the Merchant Shipping Act, which were applicable to the Bill. The reason why that had been done was that when they were in the former Act there was this inconvenience—that the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act having been altered a year afterwards, the Schedule was no longer correct, and, therefore, any person having the Act in his hands, and not knowing the changes that had been made, would be misled. It was thought better, therefore, that the provisions should not be scheduled, but that a copy of them should be given to the captains of fishing vessels.
  Bill read 2a (according to Order): Then Standing Order No. 39, considered (according to Order), and dispensed with: Moved that the Bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House forthwith; agreed to: House in Committee accordingly: Bill reported without Amendment: Standing Committee negatived: Bill read 3a, and passed.

  COURT OF SESSION CONSIGNATIONS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
  Read 3a (according to Order), and passed.
  POST OFFICE ACT, (1891) AMENDMENT BILL.
  Read 3a (according to Order), and passed.
  JUDICIAL COMMITTEE AMENDMENT BILL. [H.L.]
  House in Committee (according to Order): Bill reported without amendment: Standing Committee negatived; and Bill to be read 3a on Thursday next.

  DISTRESS BILL. [H.L.]
  On the Order for the consideration of the Commons' Amendments to this Bill.
  LORD HERSCHELL LORD HERSCHELL moved to disagree to Clause (A), and to substitute the following:—
  "A court of summary jurisdiction, on complaint that goods or chattels exempt under Section 4 of the Law of Distress Amendment Act, 1888, from distress for rent, have been taken under such distress, may, by summary order, direct that the goods and chattels so taken, if not sold, be restored; or, if they have been sold, that such sum as the Court may determine to be the value thereof shall be paid to the complainant by the person who levied the distress or directed it to be levied."
  Motion agreed to; and a Committee appointed to prepare a reason to be offered to the Commons for such disagreement; the Committee to meet forthwith: Report from Committee of reason prepared by them, read, and agreed to: And a message sent to the Commons to return the said Bill, with the Amendment and Reason.

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 10) BILL.
  Read 1a; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners. (No. 177.)
  MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE (IRELAND) BILL.
  Order for Second Reading To-morrow discharged.

  MIDWIVES REGISTRATION BILL. [H.L.]
  Order for the House to be in Committee (on re-commitment) on Friday next discharged.
  House adjourned at a Quarter before Five o'clock, to Thursday next, a quarter past Ten o'clock.