§ MR. DISRAELIIt may perhaps be convenient that I should refer to the probable state of Business before Easter, and a few days after Easter, so that the House may know as accurately as possible the situation. I hope the discussion on going into Committee upon the Artizans Dwellings Bill will be concluded to-night, and in that case the Bill will be proceeded with in Committee on Thursday next. The Friendly Societies Bill will be in Committee tomorrow, and the Regimental Exchanges Bill will be the first Order on Monday. I trust we shall pass it through Committee on that day; if not—but I will not anticipate such a result—we may have to ask the House to consent to an arrangement of another character. The Peace Preservation Bill will be the first Order on Monday, the 22nd, and we intend to proceed with it until the House adjourns, on Thursday, the 25th instant, until Monday, the 5th of April. On the latter day we propose to take Supply. On Thursday, the 8th of April, we shall propose the second reading of the Merchant Shipping Acts Amendment Bill, and we shall take it as the first Order of the Day. On Thursday, the 15th of April, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will make his Financial Statement.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONIt is most important that the measures which have been introduced by the Government should not be placed on the 1614 Paper as second Orders. Last Monday the Regimental Exchanges Bill was put down as the second Order, and a great number of hon. Gentlemen were kept here at considerable inconvenience to themselves until a late hour in the expectation that the Bill would come on. This evening the first Order is the Navy Estimates, which usually give rise to a protracted discussion, while the Artizans Dwellings Bill is put down as the second Order. To-morrow I understand the same course is to be followed; and, after a discussion on going into Supply, the Friendly Societies Bill is to be discussed at a late hour of the evening. Confining my attention for the present to the Artizans Dwellings Bill, I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, looking at the fact that there are two very important Motions on the Question that the Speaker do leave the Chair, it would be convenient to attempt to enter into a discussion upon that Bill?
§ MR. DISRAELII quite agree with the noble Lord that it is very desirable that every measure of the Government should stand as the first Order of the Day; but that is impossible, especially with a Government which has many important measures. The noble Lord is, I think, completely mistaken in supposing that discussions on the Navy Estimates absorb the whole night, for I think, on the average, they are brought to a close about half-past 10 or 11 o'clock, and the noble Lord will hardly think that is too late to proceed with business of grave interest. I think that, on the whole, the noble Lord will find that the arrangements of the Government are most convenient for the House to adopt. I can truly say that the convenience of the House is always considered in making them consistent with the progress of Public Business, and, indeed, the progress of Public Business is a common cause. Of course, I shall be very glad, whenever I possibly can, to meet the views of the noble Lord by putting our measures as first Orders of the Day; but I believe that, in practice, it will be found very difficult in every case to make arrangements of that kind.
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERasked if the Friendly Societies Bill would be taken after 11 to-morrow?
§ MR. DISRAELINo.