§ MR. W. SMITHasked the Vice President of the Council, If he will state when he will introduce the measure for the amendment of the Elementary Education Act of 1870, which is referred to in Her Majesty's Speech?
MR. GLADSTONEI have arranged with my right hon. Friend (Mr. W. E. Forster) that as the matter relates to the general conduct of business I should answer the Question. Our experience is that there is great wisdom in the rule of "doing one thing at a time," which was mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Buckinghamshire (Mr. Disraeli) the other day. I am convinced that it tends to the speedy and effectual despatch of public business; and as I have to-night to introduce a measure of the greatest consequence, and as it is impossible for me at this moment to anticipate what time the discussion of it may require, 370 I hope the hon. Gentleman will not think it strange if I decline at present to name any day for the introduction of the Bill to which he refers. I will only tell him it is the sanguine hope of my right hon. Friend and myself that it will be introduced, I will not say before the end of the Session, but at an early period, in ample time for the judgment of Parliament to be taken upon it.