THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in moving that on Tuesday next, and every succeeding Tuesday during the present Session, Government Orders of the Day should have precedence over Notices of Motion, said, that he should not have placed this Motion on the paper had it not appeared to be the general wish of the House that the public business should not be retarded, and he hardly knew any means by which the efforts of hon. Members to accelerate the progress of business could be made so effective as the proposition he had now to submit to the House. He did not wish to insist on such a Motion, if any considerable body of Members were opposed to it; but if he had not misunderstood the feeling of the House, they desired to expedite the business, and this was the best way of doing so. He had examined the notice paper, and upon the whole it appeared to him that no subject would materially suffer by the adoption of this Motion.
§ COLONEL WILSON PATTENsaid, he wished to inquire of the right hon. Gentleman whether it was the intention of the Government to continue the morning sittings so incessantly as they had done during the last fortnight?
MR. SERJEANT DEASYsaid, he would 604 beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it would be convenient for him to state what Government measures he proposed to proceed with, and what were to be dropped?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, that the Government certainly intended, with the permission of the House, to avail themselves of morning sittings as much as possible. There were several measures of great importance to which morning sittings were already allotted. With regard to the Government business, it appeared to them that the India Bill, the Transfer of Land (Ireland) Bill, and the Scotch Universities Bill, were measures of such importance that they must be pressed forward to legislation, and there were many other Bills before them of great importance. Indeed, he was not prepared to say at present that there were any measures which the Government intended to give up. Their proceedings in that respect must depend very much on the progress they made in the three essential Bills to which he had alluded, and which it was of great public importance should be passed. The House would also recollect that the Government must yet appeal to Committees of Supply for considerable items of the public revenue. That, it appeared to him, was all the information which he could at present give with respect to the public business.
§ COLONEL WILSON PATTENsaid, that if it was not intended to have morning sittings every day, it would be very convenient if the House could be informed what days of the week would be so appropriated.
§ VISCOUNT GODERICHsaid, he would beg to ask what the Government intended to do with respect to the Local Government Bill which was down for the morning sitting to-day, but did not come on?
§ MR. LABOUCHEREsaid, he wished to inquire whether the Government had made up their minds what course they would take with regard to the Bill for the reform of the Corporation of London; whether it would come on for discussion; and if so, what day was fixed for it?
§ MR. WALPOLEreplied, that the Bill for the reform of the Corporation of London was not, strictly speaking, a Government measure. It was introduced by the late Government, and since the present had been in office they had given it all the assistance they could in order to get it put into shape. An experiment was made the other day to proceed with it, but such was 605 the opposition that it entirely failed. He really did not see, in the present state of public business, and at this period of the Session, that there was any prospect of going on successfully with the measure—a circumstance which he very much regretted.
MR. STUART WORTLEYsaid, he rose to ask whether it was not the fact that, since the discussion to which the right hon. Gentleman had alluded, the Government had received a memorial passed unanimously by the Common Council of London, praying that the Bill should be proceeded with, and offering to give it every assistance, and urgently requesting the right hon. Gentleman to use all the means in his power to secure its passing into a law this Session?
§ MR. WALPOLEsaid, that it was true that he had received a communication from the Common Council to the effect stated by the hon. and learned Member—whether they were unanimous or not he could not say. [Mr. WORTLEY: Yes, unanimous.] But he might add that, within two hours after receiving that communication, he received another from the Liverymen of London requesting that the Bill should not be proceeded with.
§ Motion agreed to.
§
Resolved—
That upon Tuesday next, and on every succeeding Tuesday during the present Session, Government Orders of the Day shall have precedence of Notices of Motions.