§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he intended to ask the House to give precedence to-morrow to the Local Government Bill over the other Orders of the Day?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)Certainly, Sir; I intend to adhere to the understanding at which the House and the Government arrived before the holidays—that is, that we should give precedence to the Local Government Bill to-morrow, in order that progress may be made with it.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREI beg to give Notice that when the First Lord of the Treasury moves for precedence, I shall oppose the Motion.
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONE (Edinburgh, Mid Lothian)When the conversation on the subject took place, although I was desirous to expedite the Bill, I think the understanding of which the right hon. Gentleman speaks was simply an understanding of his own intention.
§ MR. SETON-KARR (St. Helen's)asked, whether, supposing the debate on the Local Government Bill was not concluded on Monday night, the First Lord of the Treasury proposed to ask private Members to give way on Tuesday? He bad an important Notice in reference to State-aided colonization on the Paper for that day, and he was anxious not to lose the opportunity of bringing it before the House.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI do not doubt the hon. Member will have ample opportunity of bringing on the interesting subject named, and I should be glad to have a subject of that importance discussed; but I must ask permission to decline answering a Question as to what may be done on Tuesday, although I cannot doubt myself that the House will conclude before that day the debate on the Local Government Bill.