MR. CHAPLINasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he intends to move the adjournment of the House from Tuesday next till Thursday, as Wednesday next is the Derby Day?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I observe that prior to the year 1860, it was the habit of the House to adjourn over the Derby Day; but the Motion for adjournment was not undertaken by the Government of the time being. In the year 1860, Lord Palmerston, then the Leader of the House, moved the Adjournment for the Derby Day himself, and from that time till the year 1871 the Motion was regularly made by the Leader of the House and acquiesced in without observation. Since 1871, however, the Motion has been opposed and divisions taken upon it, so that the position of the question appears to have changed. In these circumstances I do not think it would be desirable that the Leader of the House or the Government should make the Motion for adjournment; but, of course, it will be open to my hon. Friend (Mr. Chaplin) or any hon. Member who thinks proper to do so.
MR. CHAPLINgave Notice, that in consequence of the answer of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he would himself move to-morrow that the House should, at its rising, adjourn till Thursday. He wished to ask Mr. Speaker, Whether he was right in supposing that in accordance with all former precedents this Motion, though moved by a private Member, would take precedence of other Motions?
§ MR. SPEAKERI have referred to precedents, and I find that it has been the general practice that a Motion for the adjournment of the House should take precedence of other Business. In accordance with that practice, the Motion of the hon. Member will take precedence of the Public Business to-morrow at 2 o'clock.
§ MR. ASSHETONgave Notice that he would oppose the Motion for adjournment.