§ (1.25.) MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)Can the Chief Secretary say when the figures he had promised us will be at our disposal?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.They went to the printers yesterday, and it is hoped they will be ready this afternoon.
§ SIR G. TREVELYAN (Glasgow, Bridgeton)The Chancellor of the Exchequer told the House that on the return of his right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Treasury something more would be said about the holidays and about the business to be taken after the House re-assembles. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman may be able to give the House some more information now.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH,) Strand, WestminsterI am well aware that there is a strong desire on the part of hon. Members, in consequence of the prevailing sickness, that some slight extension of the holidays should be made; but the Government are in a position of extreme difficulty in consequence of the measure now before the House having made less progress than they had hoped. I will say no more than that. The Govern- 647 ment, therefore, are not certain that the expectation which has been held out will be realised, namely, that the Bill will be passed through Committee in the course of this week. If that expectation can be realised it will be greatly for the convenience of hon. Members on both sides of the House, and any question which may still remain for consideration can be disposed of on the Report. Having regard to the fact that the House is working shorthanded, that we have only one clerk at the table, that our messengers are nearly all laid up, that 10 of my colleagues are in bed, and that there are serious gaps on the Front Bench opposite, it would be well if we could pass the Bill through Committee this week, and adjourn till Monday week. In that case Supply would be taken on Monday week, and the Report of the Land Purchase Bill would not be proceeded with till Monday, the 1st of June, so that hon. Members from Ireland could have time to put Amendments on the Paper, and also have some little rest from the incessant services which they have rendered in the House. If, however, the Government should not be so fortunate—I do not say it in any sense as a threat—it will be necessary, looking to the state of business and to the fact that we have a large amount of work yet to do, to adjourn on Friday till the following Thursday, and then to resume the consideration of the Land Bill in Committee. I hope hon. Gentlemen will understand the spirit in which I make the suggestion.
§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Government contemplate taking the Factories and Workshops Bill before the 1st of June?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI think not. Under the arrangement which I have suggested, we will take Supply on the first day after the Recess, and probably the Bill of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be taken on Tuesday at a Morning Sitting. On Thursday, the 28th of May, if unfortunately we are obliged, we will proceed with the Newfoundland Fisheries Bill, but I hope we shall not be under the necessity of doing so.
§ SIR W. LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)May I ask whether, in the event of our being called back on Monday week, the Government will take the Derby Day?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThe hon. Baronet is well aware that that is a question not for the Government, but for the House. The state of business must be a matter for consideration, and I hope that the House will, in the exercise of its discretion, consider whether it is right, under the circumstances, to adjourn over that day.
§ SIR W. LAWSONI desire to know whether the Government will support the Motion for the adjournment over the Derby Day?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThe Government have never, in my time at all events, voted as a Government upon the question, but they have always left it to the House to decide what course shall be taken.
§ MR. BROADHURST (Nottingham, W.)Can the right hon. Gentleman state the intentions of the Government with regard to the Employers' Liability Bill?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThe hon. Gentleman has, unfortunately, not been in his place. I have twice stated the intentions of the Government in regard to that measure.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAM (Lanark, N.W.)Can the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope of a day for the resumption of the Debate on the Eight Hours (Mines) Bill?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThere has been no Debate on the Eight Hours Bill, and therefore its resumption is a misnomer. In the present condition of business we cannot hold out any hope that it will be in the power of the Government to give a day for the discussion of that measure. The great questions involved in the Bill are under the consideration of a Royal Commission.
§ MR. SEXTONI would suggest that if certain of the new clauses were withdrawn for the present we might conclude the Committee on the Land Bill before Whitsuntide, on the understanding that the Bill should be recommitted after the Recess.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI fully acknowledge the spirit in which the hon. Member has made the suggestion; but the course he proposes would be a most unusual one to take in a case of this kind. The utmost latitude ought to be afforded for the consideration of new clauses on the Report, and I think that between now and to-morrow we may be be able to assure the hon. Gentleman that we are desirous to meet him as far as we reasonably can with a due regard to advancing Public Business.