§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI think it may be for the convenience of the House for me now to say that we have been obliged to-day to put the three first Notices at the commencement of the Business this evening because they relate to the Money Business of the country. It will be necessary for us, if we are to rise on Tuesday next, to ask the House to allow us so far to suspend. the Standing Orders to-morrow as to take the Report, and, I hope, the third reading at the same time, of the Consolidated Fund Bill at half-past 4 to-morrow. It will not interrupt the progress of Business, because it will pass without discussion, and it is very necessary to send it up to the House of Lords to-morrow, in order to get the Bill passed before the Recess, or we shall be in some difficulty. This has arisen partly from the count out on Tuesday, and partly from the discussion yesterday on the Irish Land Bill lasting till nearly 6 o'clock, so that it was impossible to proceed with the matter then. If the Prisons Bill passes through Committee to-night, we propose on Monday to take the second reading of the Prisons (Scotland) Bill and the Maritime Contracts Bill; and on Tuesday, on which day I 333 shall move the Adjournment of the House, I shall ask the House to consent to a Morning Sitting, for taking Votes on Supply. I believe it will be necessary to call the House on Saturday, but it will be a formal Sitting, in order to receive a Commission in the House of Lords for giving the Royal Assent to certain Bills.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, he did not understand from the right hon. Gentleman what Business would be taken to-night if the Prisons Bill were concluded at an early hour. Would the right hon. Gentleman go on with the second reading of the Prisons (Scotland) Bill or the Prisons (Ireland) Bill in Committee? He wished also to know what Supply would be taken at the Morning Sitting on Tuesday, and whether it was intended that there should be an Evening as well as a Morning Sitting that day. It would be also convenient if the right hon. Gentleman were to state to-day or to-morrow what Business the House would take on the first day of re-assembling after Easter?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI hope we shall get through the Prisons Bill this evening. If so, we shall take the second reading of the Scotch Prisons Bill. But there are several other Orders which may be taken if desirable. With regard to Supply, on Tuesday, I should propose to take Classes 2 and 3 of the Civil Service Estimates. I do not think it will be the wish of the House to have an Evening Sitting on Tuesday. A meeting at 12 o'clock will be more convenient, as it will enable hon. Gentlemen to leave town early. With regard to the Sitting on Saturday, it will be necessary that there should be a quorum of the House for the purpose of reading the Consolidated Fund Bill. No other Business would be taken. As regards the Business after the Recess, we propose that the House should meet on Thursday, April 5, and take Supply, the Civil Service Estimates, and I propose on the following Thursday, April 12, to make my Financial Statement.
§ MR. BERESFORD HOPEWould the Secretary for War supplement the statement that has been given by saying when the Universities Bill will be taken?
§ MR. BAILLIE COCHRANEIf there is no Evening Sitting on Tuesday, what becomes of the Notices of Motion?
MR. GOLDSMIDasked, if there were to be a Morning Sitting on Tuesday at 12 o'clock, whether it would be under the Rule which applied to Wednesday Sittings?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, the House would be under the ordinary Rules and not under those applicable to Wednesdays. The House would not adjourn till Motion was made to that effect, unless a special Order was previously made that the House should rise at a particular time. The Government did not propose that the Notices of Motion dropped on Tuesday should take precedence when the House reassembled.
MR. GOLDSMIDasked if the House did not meet under that Standing Order, under what order it was to be? If they met at 12, was there anything to prevent the House sitting all the afternoon and evening?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, it would be a matter for consideration what course would be most acceptable to the House, and most probably on Monday it could be determined that the Sitting on the following day should be from a particular hour to a particular hour; but he thought it would be best not to bind themselves to any particular course at the present time, because they were in an uncertain position in regard to Supply.
§ MR. CHILDERSIs the Secretary of the Treasury to make his general Statement about the Votes on Tuesday? If so, I think it will be very inconvenient.
§ SIR ALEXANDER GORDONWill the Mutiny Bill be taken to-night?
§ MR. P. A. TAYLORI shall oppose its being taken after 11.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, it was not absolutely certain whether his hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury would have an opportunity of making his Statement on the Civil Service Estimates on Tuesday; but if he were able to do so and to go into Supply, it would not be at all an inconvenient time to make the Statement, which would be of a very general character, would not go into minute detail, and was sub- 335 stantially contained in the Memorandum already circulated among hon. Members.
MR. GOLDSMIDsaid, after the Notice they had received of a Committee of Supply on Tuesday, and as they had not been told under what Standing Order they were then to proceed, he should probably raise objection to the proceeding on Monday next.
MR. J. COWENWill the Valuation Bill be taken before Easter?