*MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Member must be in a position to vouch for this matter having been brought before the Public Prosecutor.

tion, there was a feeling of insecurity | or the Public Prosecutor, so far as I am existing, and they gave him three cases, aware. those of William Thomas, John Sturm, and Hugh Thomas, with the papers relating to them, with regard to which, in their opinion, inquiry ought to be made. He sent the papers to the Treasury MR. VAUGHAN DAVIES: I beSolicitor, whose report was to the effect lieve it was laid before the Public Prothat in his opinion there was no evi-secutor.

*SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY: The information I have from the Chairman of the Commission is that there were six cases brought before the Commission, and the name mentioned by the hon. Member does not happen to be one of

dence upon which the persons said to *MR. SPEAKER: Is the hon. Memhave used intimidation could be satisfac- ber in a position to vouch for that fact? torily proceeded against. He looked He merely says, "I understand it was carefully into the cases, and, not being so." completely satisfied as to one of them that there might not be a chance of conviction, he directed a special inquiry on the spot, because he felt that if there was a reasonable chance of conviction it was right that proceedings should be taken. He did that also because he them. thought that in the interests of good MR. VAUGHAN DAVIES: It is landlords it was desirable that, if there was a case for it, an example should be made. The inquiry which he made resulted in the fact that, according to the judgment of his advisers, there was no case for proceeding. Not satisfied with that decision, he referred the matter to the Attorney General, and he was of the same opinion. The Attorney General said: "In my opinion there is not sufficient evidence to justify proceedings against two persons mentioned for an offence under the Act." He could not be blamed, therefore, for not taking legal action.

vouched for. This witness was picked out by the Committee to give evidence as being one of the most intelligent men in the district.

*MR. SPEAKER said, that it was really not material what the precise evidence was. He understood that the allegation was that evidence was given, and in consequence of that evidence being displeasing to the landlord the tenant was evicted or punished, and that all this had been brought before the Public Prosecutor. These were the circumstances which the hon. Member ought to be in a position to place before the House.

MR. VAUGHAN DAVIES (Cardigan) said, he took a personal interest in MR. VAUGHAN DAVIES said, this question because he was one of the that the tenant's landlord was a banker, chief instigators in getting the evidence and that the tenant had overdrawn his in his own county put before the Com-account, and that he was peremptorily mission. He impressed on the tenant asked to settle it. The tenant was a farmers and freeholders that all they schoolmaster, and the school was in the wanted was truthful evidence, and no centre of his landlord's property, and he abuse of landlords. The witness he got notice from the School Board that he wished to cite was Daniel Jenkins, a must give up his school. He had to do schoolmaster in his county and a small so, and also to give up his land, and he farmer. was prevented from living in a cottage *SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY: on the estate. That, he thought, ought I rise to order. He is not a witness to be sufficient evidence for the Public whose name was before the Home Office Prosecutor. He wished to give some

examples of the statements this witness held it to be out of order. made before the Commission.

*MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Member is not entitled to go into details of this description. It is sufficient to say that the man's evidence caused eviction. The hon. Member is not entitled to convert this into a discussion on the relation between landlords and tenants.

He hoped

the House would now agree to the suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: I was making no complaint of the Opposition. I only wish to point out that we cannot open up an unlimited field of discussion.

DR. CLARK contended that there had never been a Vote on Account taken during the last 10 years on which a long discussion on some point had not been taken. This time last year the Report stage began at four o'clock and THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREA- lasted the whole night, although the SURY said, that he desired to point Committee stage had occupied a whole out to the House the position in which day. The only questions that had been they were. The Vote on Account had discussed in this Vote related to foreign been discussed for a whole night in Com- affairs, and there were many who desired mittee, and for the greater part of to hear something as to the condition of another night. It had now been dis- affairs in Matabeleland. cussed on Report for two hours. From MR. LEWIS said that many hon. the nature of the case the number of Gentlemen had spoken on the other side possible subjects that could be dealt of the Housewith on a Vote on Account was unlimited, because the Votes traversed the whole range of our Civil Service Estimates. No subject, therefore, was excluded from its purview, and it would be possible to have a discussion upon it which would last not for one night, but for 20 or 30 nights. But in his judgment the House ought to come to the conclusion that there must be some limit put to this discussion. [Cheers.] The old practice of the House was to confine to Supply the discussion of subjects Of course, it was not the fault of the arising on Supply, and on Votes on right hon. Gentleman that the Welsh Account what was debated was the Members did not get the two hours for length of time which they should last. He confessed that now that the Government had made arrangements by which Supply was to be brought forward every Friday they might revert to the old practice to great advantage. As far as he could judge an adequate amount of time, taking the whole Vote together, had been given to the Vote, and he begged to move that the question be now put.

*MR. KNOX asked, whether it was in order for the right hon. Gentleman to make a speech in moving the Closure.

MR. LEWIS observed that the other evening the right hon. Gentleman the First Lord of the Treasury undertook to give the Welsh Members facilities, and adjourned the discussion upon the particular question in Supply then under Debate in the House, two hours earlier.

They

discussion on the question which had
been before the House, neither was it
the fault of the Welsh Members.
were now obliged to discuss this ques-
tion at half-past four in the morning,
and all they asked for was, that now
they had been placed in this unfortunate
position, they should have the oppor-
tunity and the right of discussing a
question of deep and vital interest to
thousands of tenant farmers in Wales,
and if such a discussion was put an end
to then he would ask the Speaker to
allow them to divide against the Closure
as a protest.

*MR. SPEAKER said that, on a former occasion his predecessor had MR. W. ALLEN (Newcastle-underdeprecated the practice, but had not Lyme) asked the First Lord of the

Mr. Vaughan Davies.

Treasury if he would put down the
Colonial Office Vote for Thursday week.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY hoped to put the Colonial Office Vote on some day when there would be a larger attendance than there was likely to be on the first day of the re-assembling of Parliament after the holidays. DR. TANNER: Are you afraid of America?

MR. HERBERT ROBERTS said, it seemed from the admission of the right hon. Gentleman himself, that he found some difficulty in making up his mind as to whether there had been intimidation in one case, and gave instructions that a special Inquiry should be made into it. He thought, under these circumstances, it must be plain to the House from the Debate upon this question, that the Witnesses Protection Act required alteration and strengthening. As a protest, and to bring out the depth of the sentiment of Wales on this question, he begged to move to reduce the Home Secretary's salary by £100.

*MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Gentleman cannot move an Amendment.

I

have put the question that the House EVIDENCE IN CRIMINAL CASES BILL agree with the Committee, and after I have put that question no Amendment can be moved.

*MR. SPEAKER again put the question, "That the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolution," and declared the Ayes had it.

Second Reading deferred till Monday 13th April.

CONCILIATION (TRADE DISPUTES)
BILL.

Second Reading deferred till Thurs

DR. TANNER: On a point of order
[Cries of "Order!"I would ask day 9th April.

you, Sir, whether, when any Member
rising in his place asks for a reduction
of the salary of any-

*MR. SPEAKER: Order, order! I have already ruled upon that, and since then the question has been put.

MILITARY LANDS ACT (1892)
AMENDMENT BILL.

Second Reading deferred till Thursday 9th April.

DISTRICT COUNCILS (WATER SUPPLY

FACILITIES) BILL.

LAW AGENTS (SCOTLAND EIL
Second Reading deferred t This

Second Reading deferred till Thurs day 9th April. day 16th April.

PLUMBERS' REGISTRATION BILL.
Adjourned Debate on Second Reading
[13th March] further adjourned till
Friday 10th April.

SOLICITORS' MAGISTRACY BILL.

PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS (CONTRIBUTIONS IN AID. Return ordered

"Of the Contributions made during the ye ended August 1895 by Departments of Stat other than the Education Department and the Science and Art Department, to the Fans of

Second Reading deferred till Wednes Public Elementary Schools, stating (a the maze day 15th April.

TROUT FISHING CLOSE TIME
(SCOTLAND) BILL.

Committee deferred till Thursday 23rd
April.

FRESHWATER FISHERIES BILL. Second Reading deferred till Monday 27th April.

ESTATES TAIL ABOLITION BILL.
Second Reading deferred till This
Day.

GROUND GAME ACT (1880) AMEND

MENT BILL.

and denomination of the schools with the school districts and counties in which they are situated; (b) the name of the contributory department; (c) the grounds on which the paymen's are made; and (d) whether payments are made annually, and, if so, since what date payments have been made."-(Mr. Henry J. Wilson.)

NEW WRIT.

For the Borough of Dublin (College Green Division), v. Dr. Joseph Edward Kenny (Manor of Northstead).

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

MR. W. ALLEN asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what would be the Votes that would be put down on

Second Reading deferred till Wednes- the day the House re-assembled ? day 15th April.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE (MARKS)

BILL.

Adjourned Debate on Motion for
Committal to Select Committee [18th
March] further adjourned till Monday
13th April.

COLONIAL MARRIAGES BILL.

MR. HANBURY: The Post Office and Inland Revenue Votes and Class 1 with the exception of the Irish Votes.

MR. HERBERT LEWIS asked whether any Government Bill would be taken on the Thursday or Friday?

MR. HANBURY was understood to say not.

DR. TANNER asked the right hon. Gentleman if there was any authority for the alarming reports that came to them from France this evening, in connection with the resignation of a very

Second Reading deferred till Friday prominent member of the French Min24th April.

PLACES OF WORSHIP (LEASEHOLD
ENFRANCHISEMENT) BILL.

Second Reading deferred till Tues-
day 28th April.

istry and that war was threatened against England?

[No answer was given.]

Adjourned at ten minutes before

Five o'clock in the morning.

IRELAND).

Naval Works.

Poor Law

(Women).

Guardians (Ireland)

Ordered and directed, That a Certificate be sent by the Clerk of the Parlia- The Royal Commissioners were, the ments to the Clerk of the Crown in LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Halsbury), the Ireland, stating that the Lord Chancellor Earl of HOPETOUN (Paymaster General), of the United Kingdom has reported to and Lord JAMES of HEREFORD (Chanthe House of Lords that the right of the cellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.) Lord Kingsale to vote at the elections of Representative Peers for Ireland has been established to the satisfaction of him the said Lord Chancellor; and that the House of Lords has ordered that such

Report to be sent to the said Clerk of the Crown in Ireland; and it is hereby also Ordered, that the said Report of the said Lord Chancellor be sent to the Clerk of the Crown in Ireland.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE. Ordered that the evening sitting of the House on Tuesday the 21st of April next, do commence at a quarter past Four o'clock.

House adjourned at Twenty-five minutes past Twelve o'clock, to Tuesday the 21st of April next, a quarter past Four o'clock.

COMPANIES BILL [H.L.]. Committee of the Whole House (which stands appointed for the first sitting day after the Easter Recess) put off to Monday the 27th of April next.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Tuesday, 31st March 1896.