Orders of the Day — ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE BILL [Lords].

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am ar 27 Gorffennaf 1923.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr William Pringle Mr William Pringle , Penistone

I have been so busy attending to my Parliamentary duties that I have not heard the result of the Bye-Election; but I can quite understand that it is cold comfort even to the former Leader of the National party! Any Government, say, a Government of pre-War strength, would have to accept the decision of the House, and it is because the Government would have to accept the decision of the House that we should vote for this Amendment now, and see that this provision is not passed. Upon the whole, I think, they are the more bound to do this, in view of the somewhat evasive and contradictory precedents that have been given by the right hon. Gentlemen the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General. There is no clear pledge that if on a free vote either on Committee or Report this is defeated, that the Government will accept the decision. There is the qualification of the Committee being satisfied that there is no improvement on the Act of 1920. That is not the kind of pledge that we want. What we ask from the Government is this: Will they accept a free vote on the matter without any qualification, without any reservations at all? That is a simple question. There can be no reason for withholding or refusing an answer to that. If they cannot do that, if they cannot say that they will accept the opinion of the Committee, I say that the only course for those who criticise this provision is to vote against the Second Reading of the Bill.