The debate on Thursday, which was preceded by a catechism
of no less than 88 questions,-68 put after notice given, and 20 with- out notice given,—was one in which the policy of Obstruction was unmistakably pursued. It turned on the clauses concerning the prohibition of public meetings likely to lead to riot, and the Government accepted in substance an amendment of Mr. Healy's, saving from the operation of the Bill public meetings called for proper electioneering purposes. Dilatory notices to report progress began at a comparatively early hour, and the condition of their being withdrawn was that no after- noon sitting should be held on Friday. This sufficiently showed that the object of the Irish Members was not to make progress, but to prevent it, and apparently they do not wish even to get to the Arrears Bill at the cost of first passing the Prevention of 'Crime Bill. None the less, we believe that the. Government, after the official state- ment they have made concerning the evictions, are bound to press on the Arrears Bill with the utmost urgency, and either to postpone their immediate task, or,—what would be much better,—to lighten it of half its difficulties, by accepting, on its remaining clauses, the advice of the English Liberals who protest against many of its minutely and superfluously harass- ing provisions.
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