§ MR. REEDasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, having regard to the National interests involved in the speedy passing of the Elections (Parliamentary and Municipal) Bill, the customary suspension of business on Tuesday and Friday evenings between the 56 hours of seven and nine o'clock might not be dispensed with during the remainder of the Session?
MR. GLADSTONEI share, Sir, entirely in the anxiety of my hon. Friend to arrive at the end he contemplates; but I am afraid that 12 hours' continuous sitting is a little too much to expect. I confess I am not sanguine that the House would consent to remove the suspension referred to in my hon. Friend's Question. We are now coming to a time of the year when the House is accustomed to give precedence to Orders, and especially to Government Orders on Tuesday evenings, and when that is done the course of Business will, of course, be materially assisted. In 1869 that was not done until the 2nd of August — a date now not very far distant; and in 1868 it was done as early as the 7th of July. It may, therefore, not be long before we shall have to ask the House to assent to some such proposal.
§ Afterwards—
§ MR. NEWDEGATEdesired to know, After what time the Government would not bring on the Glebe Loan (Ireland) Act (1870) Amendment Bill and the Maynooth College Bill?
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. DOWSE)said, he hoped to be able to make progress that evening, provided they could be reached by a reasonable time.