§ MR. CHARLES LEWISasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether there was to be a Morning Sitting tomorrow; and, when he intended to bring up the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Bill on Report?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, that the Government proposed to take a Morning Sitting to-morrow to go on with the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill if not finished before. If that Bill were finished to-day, the Report on the Resolutions relating to the Duke of Connaught's Annuity would be taken, and also the Admiralty and War Office (Retirement of Officers") Bill. He was not in a position to say at present when the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Bill could be proceeded with. They might be able also to take other Business to-morrow; but he would inform the House more definitely at a later period of the Sitting.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE-QUERbelieved it would be the general 392 wish of the House to confine the Saturday Sitting to strictly Government Business, and he should discourage, therefore, any private Business being introduced.
In reply to Mr. M'LAREN,
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE-QUERsaid, he still hoped to pass the Endowed Schools and Hospitals (Scotland) Bill this year.
THE O'CONOR DONsaid, he wished to be understood that in regard to the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday (Ireland) Bill he did not in any way consent to the arrangement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that nothing but Government Business should be taken to-morrow. He understood that the Government did not intend to put the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday (Ireland) Bill on the Paper; but he reserved to himself the right of moving the third reading to-morrow.
§ MAJOR NOLANhoped, if the Government were to take the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Bill to-morrow, they would adhere to their resolution to proceed only with Government Business. If it was to be understood that the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday (Ireland) Bill stood a chance of coming on, there would be no chance of making progress with the other Business, as a great deal of unnecessary talking on the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Bill would ensue, in order to obstruct, if possible, the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday (Ireland) Bill.
§ MR. ANDERSONappealed to the Speaker, whether it was not perfectly regular for any private Member to put down a Notice for any day on which the House was appointed to sit?
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid, if the House was appointed to sit to-morrow, it could take any Bill it thought proper to proceed with.
§ MR. ANDERSONasked, whether the Speaker meant that private Members were or were not shut out.
§ MR. SPEAKERexplained, that he made no distinction between what the hon. Member called private Members and official Members, as regarded the Business of the House.
§ MR. VERNERasked, if the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Bill would be proceeded with to-morrow?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe Bill, I understand, is being 393 reprinted, and if it can be in the hands of Members in time, I hope to take it to-morrow.
§ MR. FAWCETTasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer not to take the Bill to-morrow, as it would be very inconvenient to proceed with it until hon. Members' Amendments were on the Paper.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, that he fully appreciated the hon. Member's objection. He would admit that it might be inconvenient for hon. Members who wished to move Amendments on the Report to frame them properly, unless they had the printed Bill in their possession. He would keep that consideration in view when determining whether the Bill should or should not be taken at tomorrow's Sitting.