At our last meeting I adjourned the House sine die. I mentioned that we probably would not meet until 10th April. At that time I had no knowledge of the fact that the Government intended to pass in the Dáil the Finance (Customs and Stamp Duties) Bill, 1929. which was down on the Orders of the Day for its Second Stage. This Bill is certified as a Money Bill, and it reached us on the morning of Friday last. Accordingly it became incumbent on me, under Standing Order 74, to summon a meeting at the first reasonable opportunity. As has been emphasised so often before by my predecessor in this Chair, misunderstandings and inconveniences of this kind are certain to continue until some proper nexus is established between the Government and this House. Last week, doubtless in view of the Easter holidays, a number of Bills was sent to us from the other House, with the result that seven Bills have reached us, all of first-class importance. There are numerous reasons why we should not proceed with these to-day; there is no hurry about any of them; the Second Reading debate in the case of practically all of them is likely to be contentious, and numbers of Senators have, I understand, made their Easter arrangements on the understanding that our next meeting would not take place until April 10th. That is, however, a matter for the House to decide, but I hope they will take their decision regarding these Bills en bloc and thus avoid a desultory debate in each instance as to whether or not a particular Bill will be taken to-day. I would like the opinion of the House as to whether we should deal solely with the Money Bill and adjourn the consideration of the remaining business until the next meeting of the Seanad.
Business of Seanad.
Cathaoirleach
It seems to me that you have pointed out a very wise course for the Seanad to take in connection with the new measures of importance that have unexpectedly come before us. I do not think that the Seanad would be in a position to deal with the Second Reading of any of these Bills to-day. Their passage would require some consideration, and it may be that they would require certain amendments. I consider that in matters of such importance this Seanad should consider the question carefully in all its bearings. Therefore, if it is necessary, I will move that these Bills be deferred until the next meeting.
There are certain matters that can be taken; for instance, the first item on the Order Paper. I think we have discussed that Bill—the Finance (Customs and Stamp Duties) Bill, 1929—at considerable length already, and perhaps if Senators have anything more to say about it we might continue that Bill a further stage. I would be prepared to vote for item No. 2 on the Orders of the Day, that is, the motion by Senator Milroy, so that this measure—the Finance (Customs and Stamp Duties) Bill, 1929—might be disposed of at to-day's sitting and be got rid of altogether. The Constitution (Amendment No. 11) Bill, 1928; the Constitution (Amendment No. 14) Bill, 1928; the Constitution (Amendment No. 15) Bill, 1928, and the Constitution (Amendment No. 16) Bill, 1928, are all matters that I think would require some consideration. The Censorship of Publications Bill, 1928, would certainly require consideration. The Industrial and Commercial Property (Protection) (Amendment) Bill, 1929, probably will have to be amended. The only Bill that I would be disposed to give a further stage to would be the Colorado Beetle Bill or, to give it its official title, the Destructive Insects and Pests Bill, 1928. We have already discussed that Bill at considerable length, and I think we are all in favour of it. I would be quite prepared to allow that Bill to go a further stage. The suggestion from the Chair, I think, is the proper one for the Seanad to adopt with regard to the other Bills. If necessary I will be glad to move a motion.
Cathaoirleach
I would like to get the sense of the House as to adjourning the other Bills en bloc until the 10th April.
I understand that Senator Sir Thomas Esmonde proposes that all these Bills, except the Finance (Customs and Stamp Duties) Bill, 1929, should be adjourned. I think that is a wise proposal. A great number of these Bills on the Paper to-day are highly technical. They have been very much altered as the result of the discussion which took place in the Dáil. I think many of them will require further consideration and perhaps further amendment here. It is said that the functions of this House are chiefly that of modification and amendment. If we are to discharge these functions we must have time to consider these very important measures. Therefore, I second the proposal made by Senator Sir Thomas Esmonde that all these Bills except the first Bill on the Order Paper be adjourned until after the Easter holidays.
Senator Sir Thomas Esmonde referred to the last Bill and seemed to think that that Bill should be dealt with to-day. I would like to remind him that the Senator who seems to be most interested in the measure is not present to-day, a very useful member of this House, Senator Linehan. It is a Bill affecting the farmers. Senator Linehan has some amendments to it. I would be prepared to support Senator Linehan's amendments and, therefore, I would suggest to this House that the same procedure should be adopted with regard to Number 7 as the others.
I also hope that the House will adopt your suggestion, for two reasons. First, we are not meeting on our ordinary day, which is Wednesday and, secondly, Senators thought, on the last occasion, we were going to adjourn until the 10th April.
Cathaoirleach
May I take it that it is agreed to postpone consideration of these Bills?
I take it that means, except the Second Reading of the Money Bill.
Cathaoirleach
I do not know.
You are not taking a decision that all stages of the Money Bill be taken to-day.
Cathaoirleach
I am not, until we have voted.