HC Deb 23 March 1868 vol 191 cc39-40
MR. NEWDEGATE

said, he desired to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Member for South Lancashire, If he would fix a time after which he would not bring on the third reading of the Compulsory Church Rates Abolition Bill? Since its second reading it had undergone considerable alteration.

MR. GLADSTONE

said, he was anxious that the Bill should proceed to the House of Lords at a period when that assembly was not much occupied with other business. The discussion of the Estimates would take some time, and he could not hope to be able to bring it on before midnight. He would promise in any case not to proceed with it after half-past twelve o'clock. If any desire was exhibited for general discussion of the principle of the Bill he could not, of course, proceed with it at that hour; but he trusted that the House would permit him to go on with it that evening.